A certain golfer found himself in the deep rough behind a grove of trees. His view to the green was totally obscured and he had no shot whatsoever of making the green and salvaging par. While pondering his situation the master rule maker of the golf course came by with some good news.
"My dear friend, I am going to show you some grace. Take your ball from behind these trees and place it out on the plush fairway in a place that has a flat lie and an unobstructed view of the green."
The bloke could hardly believe his good fortune. With joy he took his ball from the rough and placed it on a flat surface out in the middle of the fairway. In short order he had chipped onto the green and made his par.
As he and his playing partner teed off on the next hole he observed that his playing partner's tee shot had somehow landed in a divot in the middle of the fairway. Though he had a clear shot, it was obvious that his playing partner's shot had a great chance of being impacted by the depth of the divot. His playing partner looked imploringly at the man who has just been the recipient of great grace and implored, "Will you left me place this ball a few inches behind or to the left or right of this divot?"
The first golfer roared his displeasure and would not let his partner move his ball even the slightest bit! "You will play the game by the rules even if that means playing from a divot...there will be no bending of the rules on this course." And he folded his arms in anticipation of an upcoming bogey (or perhaps even worse.)
About that time the master rules maker appeared. "Didn't I just show great grace to you?," he roared to player one! "Didn't I just allow you to move your ball from behind a tree and about 20 yards out into the fairway? And I didn't charge you even one penalty stroke? How is it that now you refuse to grant any mercy and will not even let your playing partner move his ball one inch to the right. You should feel compelled to show the same kind of mercy as you have received." The rules commissioner was furious and his wrath hot! And the master rule maker was so upset and he took the young man's golf ball and chunked it into a pond on the 18th hole.
"And that's exactly what my Father is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy!" (Matt. 8:35 MES)
Let us each give mercy and love as we are want to receive it!
Be blessed!
PD
