Mercy

This
unusual story of Samuel August Maverick was told by the Ripley’s Believe
It or Not people. This is the man who gave us our English word maverick,
which means a contrarian, or dissenter. Once, in the 1830s, Maverick became
enraged that a man interrupted his father at a public speech. He challenged
the man to a duel and shot him. That was not terribly unusual. What was unusual
is that Maverick took the wounded man home and nursed him back to health. We
don’t know what motivated Maverick, but how often have we in some fashion wounded
a friend? We should try to heal the wounds we have caused. Better yet, we might
try to avoid wounding them in the first place.

_______________
J.
Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati,
OH.

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There is an old tale about a man named Androcles. He was a runaway slave in
Rome. He stopped and risked his life to help a wounded lion attending to his
wounded paw. There was nothing in it for him, at least he thought.

Later, Androcles was caught, jailed, and sentenced to be killed by facing a
lion. When he faced a lion in the great stadium, it just happened to be the one
he had shown mercy towards. The lion refused to destroy or even injure
Androcles. It may not be that every act of mercy will be reciprocated. The
Biblical principle is true, however: “Blessed are the merciful for they
shall receive mercy.”

___________________________

Illustration by J. Michael Shannon, Professor of Preaching, Cincinnati Bible
College & Seminary, Cincinnati, OH.

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