The Merciful
January 4, 2016
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy
One of the greatest feelings in the world is when someone has you dead to rights in a misdeed and instead of giving you what you deserve they let you off the hook. It is called mercy. Mercy is when you don’t get what you deserve. Mercy is loving kindness given to people who don’t deserve it. Mercy does not mean you feel no outrage or hurt at the wrongs done to you or others. Mercy does not condone sin, ignore wrong doing, or say it doesn’t matter. Mercy does not say that people are not accountable. Mercy is treating people with loving kindness regardless of how they treated you. It is only human to want to resent others, to get even, to lash out and strike back. But the bible teaches us it is Godly to forgive and to show mercy. In fact, Jesus says the happiest, most blessed people around are the merciful. The merciful are choosing not to live mad and in the end they are the ones who receive mercy for themselves. None of us do life perfectly and all of us need some mercy. You receive it when you give it. Is there someone in your life to whom you need to show some mercy? Has someone slighted you, disappointed you, or hurt you? What are you going to do? Stay mad, hold a grudge, seek revenge, or get even? Remember the only person your anger will devour is you. Or, are you going to be merciful? Mercy is the way to peace. Choose mercy. Remember, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy.”
One of the greatest feelings in the world is when someone has you dead to rights in a misdeed and instead of giving you what you deserve they let you off the hook. It is called mercy. Mercy is when you don’t get what you deserve. Mercy is loving kindness given to people who don’t deserve it. Mercy does not mean you feel no outrage or hurt at the wrongs done to you or others. Mercy does not condone sin, ignore wrong doing, or say it doesn’t matter. Mercy does not say that people are not accountable. Mercy is treating people with loving kindness regardless of how they treated you. It is only human to want to resent others, to get even, to lash out and strike back. But the bible teaches us it is Godly to forgive and to show mercy. In fact, Jesus says the happiest, most blessed people around are the merciful. The merciful are choosing not to live mad and in the end they are the ones who receive mercy for themselves. None of us do life perfectly and all of us need some mercy. You receive it when you give it. Is there someone in your life to whom you need to show some mercy? Has someone slighted you, disappointed you, or hurt you? What are you going to do? Stay mad, hold a grudge, seek revenge, or get even? Remember the only person your anger will devour is you. Or, are you going to be merciful? Mercy is the way to peace. Choose mercy. Remember, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy.”