When we fail, we all want mercy. When others fail us, we are often slow to return it. Mercy is one of the most beautiful words in Scripture. It means meeting others with kindness in their worst moments. Mercy is when God withholds the judgment we deserve. It is compassion for the guilty, kindness to the helpless, and patience toward the undeserving. Mercy, in Scripture, is at the core of who God is: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Ps 103:8)....

Glory is pursued constantly. People seek recognition, applause, promotions, trophies, achievements, and influence. While these can be fulfilling, are they truly the rewards we desire? Temporary rewards have temporary relevance—they end at the grave. Surely, we long for something lasting. Scripture reminds us that true glory is found elsewhere. The lasting reward is not gained through self-promotion. In Scripture, "glory" means weight, splendor, and surpassing worth. It is the visible...

We prefer promises we can revisit. We like the freedom to ratify and abolish. Our nation's history has shown the necessity of this flexibility in human law. The freedom to revisit, restructure, and reconstitute our laws is essential because they were made and applied by flawed people—some well-intentioned, others deceptive. This mix makes editing necessary. But that is not the case with God; the freedom to edit His law is not needed—editing His law is insurrection (Deut 4:2, 12:32; Prov 30:6;...