“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 NKJV.
Mercy is a grace given when you have every right and reason to not do so.
My thoughts and comments today are about “being merciful.”
Who has not needed mercy – from God and others? None is without need of mercy. In our continuing study of the Beatitudes, we have considered Jesus’ teaching of an exemplary life as “being real, compassionate, submissive, and satisfied.” Let’s go a bit further. (5) “Being Merciful.” To those who live mercifully, God’s mercy abounds. Jesus taught, “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 NKJV.
Mercy is an attribute of God. David praises God 26 times in 26 verses, “For His mercy endures forever.” Psalm 136. The Bible describes the justice of God as, “by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation,” but also a merciful God, “Who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” Numbers 14:18/Deuteronomy 7:9 NKJV. Iniquity may endure several generations but God’s mercy extends, “for a thousand generations.” James celebrates this: “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:13 NKJV. You are most like God when you show mercy.
Mercy recognizes a generous grace from God, sovereignly and through others. Jesus firmly established the application of “sowing and reaping” in His teaching, “. . those who are merciful, they will be shown mercy.” We have all commonly received His mercy. “The Lord is abounding in mercy . . He has not dealt with us according to our sins . . For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.” Read Psalm 103:8-13 NKJV. See also Ephesians 2:4-6/1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV.
Mercy is the fitting expression of compassion and generosity of spirit. See Micah 6:8 NKJV. Being merciful is the grace of an unexpected charity when you have every right and reason to not do so. God gives a wonderful promise, “. . they will be shown mercy.” In the matter of being merciful, Jesus applies the Biblical principle of “sowing and reaping.” First, you should give in the manner and measure you’ve received. “Give as freely as you have received.” Matthew 10:8 NLT. Secondly, you are promised to receive in the manner and measure you’ve given. “Whatever measure you use in giving, it will be used to measure what is given back to you.” Luke 6:38 NLT.
While often quoted in reference to financial giving, Jesus was speaking of far more practical exchanges: social and relational interactions, such as judging, criticizing, and forgiving. The principle of either giving or receiving may not prove true every time for you when it depends on people, but both are eternally reliable with God; so don’t keep score.
Along with David, I rejoice that, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life . . He who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.” Psalm 23:6/ Psalm 32:10 NKJV. Being merciful today is a small price for such magnificent gifts everyday. But with God’s promise comes a sobering warning; “Judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.” James 2:13 NKJV.
My prayer for you today is that you generously give others what God has given you.