Sheri Yutzy - Speculative Fiction Author

  • Home
  • About Sheri
  • Stories
  • Contact
  • Magic Forest Proofreading
You are here: Home / All Posts / Mercy and the Law of Liberty

Mercy and the Law of Liberty

July 1, 2017 by Sheri

Last month I shared thoughts on judgement and its effects on us. But what is the other side of judgement? Mercy. We still must decide if our actions are good or bad. Does mercy ignore bad actions and pretend they’re good?

Of course not. Mercy recognizes the wrong things we do, but allows us to get up and carry on. We don’t have to punish ourselves every time we fail. We don’t have to punish anyone else when they fail either, with words or actions. We, under the law of liberty, can extend forgiveness as Christ did to us. We are called to this, as followers of Christ.

Two verses in James concerning the law of liberty and merciful judgement connected in a way I hadn’t seen before:

“But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25

“For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:13

This is a description of imperfect progress. What is the law of liberty but a merciful judgement of our actions? When we fail, we don’t give up. We forgive ourselves and carry on. James also writes in chapter two that whoever sins in one portion of the law is guilty of sinning against all of it. The former law of harsh judgement crushes us before we can progress. The new law of liberty gives us freedom to stay the course.

One example of this is the rich young ruler who came to Jesus and asked what more he could do to inherit eternal life. When the young man said he had kept all the commandments, Jesus asked him to sell all he had and give it to the poor. The young man went away sad because he owned many things. This man was doing well, if he really had kept all the commandments from his youth up. But he put his possessions first, and was therefore guilty of failing the whole law.

Under the law of liberty, the rich young man could have begun to give away his things until he really had broken down the idols of his heart. But he was used to the law of judgement, and he saw only his failure. Why keep trying if there was no mercy for him?

We, on the other hand, have every reason to keep trying. Falling down shows us the merciful hand reached out to help. It reminds us to offer a merciful hand to others when they’re the ones who have fallen.

In what areas do you need mercy?

How can you extend mercy to others?

Filed Under: All Posts

Want free stories, discounts, and other forest magic?Join my newsletter!

I like sending free stories to my friends.
Join the list and get a free ebook copy of Stories of the Stars, my speculative short story collection!

About Sheri

Here Goes Something New!

Hi, I'm Sheri Yutzy. I love forests under the night sky, trying new foods, and drinking Irish tea. I've been to 17 countries, and once spent the night in a hotel lobby in Florence, Italy, because the entire city was fully booked for a festival.
I'm married to a musician who looks good in black, mama to three curious kids, and happy resident of a Cape Cod cottage in Ohio.
I write YA fantasy and am acquisitions editor at sparkflashfiction.com.
Join my email list for free fiction!

Goodreads

Follow Along

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Find some magic with me!

sheriyutzyauthor

I’m still here… Still living life, writing and I’m still here…
Still living life, writing and editing, loving every falling leaf and crisp breeze. I started listening to Christmas music yesterday while baking pumpkin muffins because I just couldn’t resist.😅 This year I’m planning to focus on Advent and the weeks leading up to Christmas, since we’re always traveling out of state over the 25th, and it seems to slip by in the busyness.
I have a lot going on right now, and social media is taking a back seat for the moment. Or the month. But I’ll be back, when I have the focus to spare. Until then, I wish you all a happy, mindful fall.
Love you 😘

#sheriyutzy #livingslow
Lovely things await! My contributor’s copy of CO Lovely things await!
My contributor’s copy of COMMONPLACE from @daughtersofpromise has arrived.
I gasped when I saw the artwork with my article on Forest bathing. So rich and beautiful!
As always, they’re a joy to write for. 

#magicineveryday #daughtersofpromisemagazine #magiceveryday #ordinarylife #mennonites #mennonitestyle #mennonite #mywritinglife #writingsforlife #writingaboutlife #writingismylife #lifewritings #writinglifestyle #freelancewritinglife #bookwritinglifestyle #lifewriting #writingislife #writingforlife #thewritinglife #owningmyself #owningmylife #owningit #owningmytime #startyourlife #honestliving #honestlivingbeing #livinghonestly #honestlivings #alwaysbelearning #sheriyutzy
🌚 COVER REVEAL🌚 We finally get to see the b 🌚 COVER REVEAL🌚

We finally get to see the beautiful cover for THREAD OF DREAMS, @embarnettauthor’s upcoming debut from @owlsnestpublishers! 
I can’t wait to get my hands on this dreamy book.

Here is the blurb:

Nova’s sunless planet is sustained by the magic of human dreams. Born as a moon mage, Nova’s job is to harvest dream threads from unaware humans to be used against a dark parasite eating away their land. 

Then, Nova meets Arlo, a boy who not only sees her but whose aching heart permeates his dreams. Desiring deep connection, Nova ignores the warnings of her people in order to visit the beauty of his subconscious.

But nightmares not only seep into minds and hearts, they also stalk the bioluminescent forests of Nova's world. Danger lurks in waking and sleeping, and to fail means succumbing to the parasite while cut off from Arlo forever. But if Nova can find a way to fight back, she and her people could be free to dream again.

#threadofdreams #emilybarnettauthor #bookworm_insta #booksoutside #fantasylit #yalove #amwritingyafantasy #yafantasywriter #yafantasyauthor #novelfantasy #loveagoodbook #readtogether #iamreading #indiebook #newbooksmell #loveofreading #imreading #booksmell #booklovergift #bookloversoftheworld #constantreader #books4life
I’ve been reading a lot of books, but not taking I’ve been reading a lot of books, but not taking many pictures of them.🥸 
Mostly because this weather is as anti-inspirational as it gets for me.😭 this happens every year—the last few hot and muggy days of September make me want to hide inside 24/7. But it’s supposed to get cooler by the weekend, thank God.

I saw DREAMS LIE BENEATH at the bookstore and was captivated by the cover. It’s so different from A RIVER ENCHANTED that I didn’t realize it was the same Rebecca Ross. I actually thought, one of them needs to change their name.😅

This one is my next read, I think. Have you read it? What did you think?
@beccajross #rebeccaross 
#sheriyutzy #bookworm_insta #summerreads #fantasylit #yalove #amwritingyafantasy #yafantasywriter #yafantasyauthor #novelfantasy #loveagoodbook #readtogether #iamreading #indiebook #newbooksmell #loveofreading #imreading #booksmell #booklovergift #bookloversoftheworld #constantreader #books4life
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Let’s keep in touch!

You'll be the first to know about new discounts, free stories just for subscribers, and beta reader openings. Feel free to sign up!

My Book Progress

Spiraldown
Phase:Writing
31.8%
MyBookProgress by Author Media

© 2023 Sheri Yutzy

-
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
 

Loading Comments...