What is mercy in our day? Jesus said,
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 5:7
Mercy is not something we hear much about. To show mercy I need to have authority over someone. In a flattened society where authority is tentative, kindness and forgiveness are more common terms and have a similar sense for people in peer relationship.
Jesus summarised the direction of his teaching saying,
Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5v48
Jesus focuses on mercy because the Father sees my imperfection and is merciful. I see this where the Lord proclaimed his character, saying to Moses,
“The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.
Exodus34v6-7
I see this when my Father has had mercy in my failures. Sometimes I think, “it is only little and does not matter.” Sometimes I am unaware of what I am doing or unaware of any consequences. The Father saw the unfolding harm from the beginning. He limits the consequences and brings me through with mercy.
So, can I show the same grace to people who are failing me where the knock on effects are going to influence my life, those I love, my plans, my stuff …?
What does mercy look like for you?
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
One thought on “Mercy”
“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
Luke 6:36
““Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
Matthew 5:7
The challenge: to show forgiveness/love/mercy even to those who are determinedly unkind.
Not easy but achievable by His Spirit.