Showing Mercy

N. T. #35 "Showing Mercy" 

March 27, 2023

Matthew 5-Part 5
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (verse 7)

LET IT GLOW

When someone has been mean to me, I try to turn the other cheek and love them instead of returning evil for evil. Now, I can't do it by myself. My nature wants to get back at them. Jesus helps me, and through me He loves them. That is mercy. I show mercy because I have first received the mercy of God.

This beatitude is so misunderstood in our day because it makes our obtaining mercy conditional on our being merciful. This is not the condition on which we obtain mercy. We should be merciful because we have obtained mercy. (J. Vernon McGee)

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of the Holy Ghost. (Titus 3:5) 

Those who have been born again by the mercy of God, have His divine love extended to them, and have the work of the Holy Spirit in them producing a mercy. We show mercy and kindness because we are saved.

Merciful means compassion; mercy means compassionate (by word or deed, specifically by divine grace); have pity on. 

Jesus is the ultimate example of mercy when He cried on the cross, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)

First, we receive mercy from our God through Jesus. We deserve death and hell, but Jesus loved us so much that He gave His life in our place so we do not get what we deserve. Such love and mercy!

Have you received this mercy, dear one? 

LET IT GROW

Being merciful is having a forgiving spirit and a compassionate heart. It is more than forgiving a wrong. It is empathy, walking in their shoes and feeling what they feel. We reach out to do all we can, whether it is only prayer or meeting a need by doing. We are not to hold back, no matter the cost.

John asks how can the love of God dwell in us if we do not meet a brothers need and show no compassion (1 John 3:17) If a brother or sister is naked, hungry, and we do not give what is needed, only words, what does it profit? (James 2:15-16)  Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

How can we show mercy?

• Giving bread to the hungry. (James 2:15)
• Clothe the naked.
• Pity the afflicted. (Job 6:14)
• Bear the burdens of others. (Galatians 2)
• Support the weak. (Acts 20:35)
• Comfort the grieving and strengthen the broken. (Job 16:5)

However we want people to treat us, we should treat them. (Matthew 7:12)

Then we will be bless. We find hope and joy and happiness serving God as we serve others.

LET IT GO

Jesus, we do not deserve Your mercy, yet You are merciful to us.

Thank You, Lord.

Help us show this mercy to others.