"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." NIVA few years ago a movie came out called, "Pay It Forward." It was about a 12-year-old boy given an assignment in school to develop an idea that would change the world. He came up with "pay it forward." He would do something unexpected and helpful for three people. In return for his kindness, he asked them to pay it forward by doing something kind for three more people. And so on and so on. I won't give away the movie for you, but in the end, we learn that he had touched thousands of people through his project of mercy.
Mercy is a gift we have received from our Lord, something we completely do not deserve, and He asks us to give it out freely to others. In fact, He commands it. In forgiving those who have offended us, in Matthew 6:14-15 He says that we must forgive others, or we will not be forgiven by our Father. For the needy, we are to help them. For our enemies, we are to love them. Mercy is to be given to all others around us and comes from the righteousness that we are being filled with as written in verse 6. Mercy given out on our own is rote duty; mercy coming from the Father's Spirit empowering us is a choice made out of love and a desire to walk in His path.
Lord, help me to be more merciful. I am a sinner saved by grace, and I want to share that grace and mercy that You showed me with others. Teach me and fill me, Precious Lord.
Further Thoughts:
- Read about David's acts of mercy in 1 Samuel 24 and 26.
- Read Jesus' parable of the unmerciful servant.
- Do you struggle with showing mercy to the needy? your enemies? those who have hurt you? Who do you need to work on showing more mercy to? Choose by the power of the Holy Spirit to be merciful.
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