The Daily Devotional
Friday, July 18, 2025
Letting Go of Fair
Love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:35–36)
Introduction
Sometimes it feels like doing the right thing gets you nowhere, while those who cut corners or live selfishly seem to come out ahead. If you’ve ever experienced that sting of injustice, you’re in good company. Jonah knew it well. Sent by God to preach repentance to the brutal Ninevites, Jonah bristled—not just at the task but at the thought that God might actually forgive them. How could God extend mercy to people who had caused so much pain?
Reflection
Years ago, a woman worked tirelessly at her office—always early, always prepared, always kind. Her coworker, however, played favorites, cut corners, and often slacked off. When promotion time came, it was the slacker who got the raise and title. The woman sat in her car that night, tears burning her eyes, whispering, “It’s just not fair.”
That quiet frustration echoes Jonah’s story. He obeyed—eventually—but his heart wasn’t in it. He wanted justice, not mercy. But God sees things differently. He deals not only with actions, but with hearts. Mercy isn't about fairness—it’s about grace. And grace, by its very definition, is undeserved.
Application
It’s easy to keep score—especially when it feels like you’re losing. But God invites you into a different game altogether. One where your measure of success isn’t comparison, but compassion. When that person who wronged you seems to get ahead, or when you're asked to bless someone who hurt you, resist the urge to tighten your fists. Instead, open your hands. Offer grace.
This week, take inventory of your gratitude. Start a short “thankfulness journal” for the next five days. Each evening, write down three good things God has done for you—however small. When envy creeps in, let thankfulness push it out. And if someone in your life feels like a “Ninevite,” say a short prayer for them. You don’t need to feel it—just choose it.
Conclusion
God doesn’t call us to like injustice, but He does call us to trust Him with it. When we let go of our limited sense of fairness and rest in His perfect mercy, we find peace. Even when others seem to “win,” we know that grace has already crowned us in ways the world can't measure. And that’s more than fair—it’s divine.
Prayer
Merciful Father, You have graced me with kindness I did not deserve and mercy I could never earn. Forgive me when I envy others or demand justice from a heart that forgets Your goodness. Help me to extend to others the same mercy You’ve given me. Teach me to release the need to judge, to compare, and to control. Fill me instead with gratitude, peace, and trust. May I reflect Your heart even when mine feels wounded. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV)© 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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