August 6, 2015

“For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways!” Romans 11:32-33

“The Mercy Rule is God’s plan for disobedient sinners to know that our only hope is his endless mercy. Paul puts it this way, “God has bound all people over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.” All. Without condition. Kristen Talbot won a spot on the U.S. speed skating team in the 1994 winter Olympics. To be an Olympic speed skater she had to stay on a rigid practice and training schedule; any interruption threatened her chance for a gold medal. Yet that’s exactly what Kristen did when, only weeks before she was scheduled to compete she donated bone marrow to her critically ill brother. During an interview she said skating and the Olympics are important, but not as important as helping others. She went on to compete in the Olympics and came home without a medal. That’s The Mercy Rule. Who needs your mercy? Make it more important.”
“The Mercy Rule” (gracedowntown website for Grace Lutheran Church,
Milwaukee, WI)

Many of us know something about a mercy rule in sports. Sometimes it is called a “ten run rule” where, if a baseball or softball team scores 10 runs more than their opponent by a certain inning, the game ends immediately. Sometimes it comes in the form of a team taking one or more players off the field once they have scored five more goals than the opposing team. The Mercy Rule is put into effect to bring about more parity among teams — to even the playing field, so to speak.

G*d’s mercy rule is not that different, because it also evens the playing field. Because of G*d’s mercy, we all have the chance for eternal life — people may think they are better than others, but G*d’s mercy comes equally to all, no matter who thinks they are better, have done more, or are more righteous. Thank goodness for G*d’s Mercy Rule, or we all would be losers.

Pastor Dave