Mercy is a foundational theme throughout the Bible. It represents God’s compassionate decision to withhold the punishment man deserves and offer forgiveness instead. Justice reveals what sin deserves, but mercy reveals the heart of God toward sinners who cannot save themselves.
In Scripture, mercy is more than a feeling of pity. It is an active demonstration of steadfast love, compassion, and deliverance. It is tied directly to God’s character. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as mercy or lovingkindness is “hesed,” which describes loyal, steadfast love that goes far beyond what is required. In the New Testament, mercy is expressed through the Greek word “eleos,” meaning kindness or concern shown to someone in need, often with the goal of alleviating suffering. James summarized it this way: “Mercy rejoiceth against judgment” (James 2:13).
One of the clearest Old Testament pictures of mercy is found in the Mercy Seat. As detailed in Exodus 25, the Mercy Seat was the golden lid that rested on top of the Ark of the Covenant. Two golden cherubim were hammered onto its ends, with their wings overshadowing it. Inside the Ark, beneath the Mercy Seat, were the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, which represented man’s failure to keep God’s law.
The Mercy Seat served as the place where justice and mercy met. The tablets of the law inside the Ark testified against man’s sin, but the Mercy Seat covered that testimony. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies and sprinkled the blood of a sacrificial animal on the Mercy Seat. That blood temporarily covered the sins of the Israelites, satisfying the requirements of God’s justice and allowing Him to dwell among a sinful people.
Those temporary, yearly sacrifices were always pointing to a permanent sacrifice. Hebrews 9:5 refers to the Mercy Seat and the cherubim that overshadowed it, but the fuller picture is completed in Christ. Romans 3:25 speaks of Jesus as the propitiation through faith in His blood. When Jesus died on the cross, His blood satisfied the righteous demands of God’s justice once and for all.
Through Christ, the Mercy Seat is no longer a physical, unapproachable piece of furniture hidden behind a heavy veil. Because of His sacrifice, believers are invited to come boldly and confidently unto the “throne of grace,” that we may “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).
Because God has shown unfathomable mercy to humanity, the Bible consistently calls believers to extend that same mercy to others. Jesus taught, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt. 5:7). From the Old Testament prophets, including Micah 6:8, which calls God’s people to “love mercy,” to the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament, Scripture shows that experiencing God’s mercy should radically transform how we treat the broken and hurting around us.
We do not merely receive mercy; we are called to reflect it. Since God has chosen mercy over the justice we deserved, those who belong to Him should be known as people who show mercy to others.
From Our Missionaries
Ebenezer, West Little Rock: Ruben Isturiz writes, “Many of you who know I am from Venezuela have reached out this week to ask about my family after the two earthquakes that struck parts of Caracas and the coastal region where the international airport is located. By God’s grace, my family is safe. The area of Caracas where my father and the rest of my family live was not directly affected, though it was certainly a frightening experience.
“I have been in contact with friends and pastors throughout Venezuela. Sadly, the number of people who are missing, injured, killed, or left homeless continues to rise as rescue efforts continue.
“In the middle of this tragedy, churches across Venezuela are stepping up to serve their communities. Many are being used as collection and relief centers while sharing the hope and peace found in Christ. I have also been able to connect pastors here in the United States with pastors in Venezuela to help support these relief efforts. Please pray that the church will continue to shine brightly and point people to Christ during this difficult time.
“On Sunday afternoon, Kory and I had the opportunity to volunteer at a local relief collection center here in Little Rock. We helped sort and pack donated supplies that will be shipped to Miami, Florida, and then sent on to Venezuela.
“At Ebenezer, we also had a wonderful time of worship. We continued our sermon series through Romans, studying Romans 1:16–17. We are thankful that, through the preaching of God’s Word, another person made the decision to be baptized next Sunday.
“On July 5, we will be traveling to DeGray Lake to baptize Jorge and Rolando. After the baptisms, we will gather for our worship service, celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and enjoy a church fellowship meal together.
“Please continue to pray for Venezuela, for the families affected by this disaster, for the churches serving on the front lines, for Ebenezer, and for our ministry among the Hispanic community in central Arkansas.
“Thank you for your faithful prayers and financial support. Your partnership makes this ministry possible. To God be all the glory!”
Faith Chapel, Flippin: Johnny Shew writes, “We had a great week at Faith Chapel! We had several out traveling, but we still had a good number and a great time of worship!
“I was able to attend the Jonesboro Association Brotherhood meeting, and it was, as always, a blessing to me! Discover Mission, John and Amanda Travis, and all their folks hosted this month, and the program was wonderful. Several young people from Stoneridge Camp gave their testimonies and shared a burden the Lord has placed on their hearts to increase participation and attendance in our BMA camps across all our Missions and Churches! Our camps are among the greatest mission fields in our association, with many salvations each year, and these young folks want to share that with all of our churches. We have invited them to come see us and inspire our young people and adults, and they would like to come to inspire you as well. Call Marsha Warner at (870) 219-9814 or Randy Lingenfelter at (870) 378-5482 for more information. We thank you all for your prayers and support. Please pray for Stoneridge Camp, Discover Mission, and John and Amanda as you pray for us! Pray for all our missions and churches. We all need them.”
Faith Journey, Benton: Bryan Clay writes, “Another wonderful week at Faith Journey! While summer vacations meant our attendance was a little lower than usual, it’s exciting to see families making memories together and returning refreshed and ready to hear God’s word.
“Our Men’s and Ladies’ Bible Studies had great lessons with excellent attendance. We were especially excited that both of our men’s and women’s groups welcomed new visitors to their studies. It’s encouraging to see people growing in God’s Word and building friendships that strengthen their faith.
“One highlight of the week was our nursing home ministry. We had three spirit- filled services with worship, encouragement, and Scripture. It’s always a blessing to spend time with these precious residents and be reminded that the Gospel continues to make a difference in every season of life.
“Thank you for your continued prayers and faithful support. We are grateful for all God is doing through Faith Journey and are excited to see what He has in store next!”
Misión Gracia Soberana (Sovereign Grace), NWA:Roberto Marcelletti writes, “Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ from the Northwest. As you know, we are in the middle of the FIFA World Cup, an event watched by more than 5 billion people around the world. In the midst of all this global excitement, I am praying intentionally for five men — Daniel, Juan Pablo, Ronny, Henry, and Angel. My hope is to invite them to our apartment this Friday to watch the Colombia match together, strengthen our relationships, and share the love of Christ with them.
“This weekend we had the joy of attending the 30th Anniversary celebration of our mother church. It was a beautiful time of worship and gratitude as we remembered the work God has done through them. We heard moving testimonies, saw photos from their early beginnings to now, and presented a special gift along with a testimony of how the Lord has used them to bless our Mission over the past almost three years since they adopted us as their daughter church.
“My wife has also been visiting a Hispanic market, where she has begun building a relationship with a woman named Ana, who has shown interest in the things of God. Yesterday after the service we went to visit her at the market, but she wasn’t there; thankfully, she doesn’t work on Sundays.
“My wife is planning to go back to see her and will bring a dessert she made with love. Please continue praying for Ana, that the Lord would open her heart and allow us to walk with her spiritually.”
Epic Life, Pea Ridge: Jake McCandless writes, (6/21) “This week was a strong showing for our groups, and I was especially proud of our Garfield Connection Circle. With the host family still recovering from surgery, group members rallied, prepared a meal for them, and then carried part of it to another member who was unable to attend. It was a simple but powerful picture of what these circles are becoming.
“I had the opportunity to see it firsthand and was incredibly encouraged — not only by the care being shown, but also by the quality of leadership and teaching within the group. The leaders did an outstanding job, and it was one of those moments when you step back and realize the ministry is no longer dependent on you being in the middle of everything.
“Personally, I continue to invest in relationships throughout the community while helping strengthen and encourage our existing circles. It continues to be encouraging to watch people care for one another, grow in the Word, and take ownership of the mission together.”
