I wish I could recall who I first heard the following definitions from years ago, but I can’t.  Nevertheless, the following definitions of justice, mercy and grace have stuck with me for a long while.  Here they are:

• Justice is getting what you deserve.
• Mercy is not getting what you deserve.
• Grace is getting more than you deserve.

I think I’m correct in stating that as a rule the following is true:

• We are eager to see other people come to justice for the wrongs they commit.
• We at least want mercy for ourselves when we do wrong.
• What we really want for ourselves is grace.

We have that backwards.  Oh, that the following was more common:

• That we would be willing to accept justice for what we do;
• That we would be willing to extend mercy even if it isn’t deserved;
• That we would rejoice with others when they are the recipients of grace.