Have you ever asked for mercy?
Who hasn’t? Who hasn’t needed to be treated with mercy … whether by a friend, family member, or God?
If you are deserving of mercy and you receive it, that feels wonderful. And being the recipient of mercy can feel even better if it’s not deserved.
One of the most beautiful promises found in the gospel of Matthew says:
Matthew 5:7: "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."
A promise like this can provide someone with a true sense of hope, peace, joy, kindness, and strength. And for those who are stingy delivering mercy to others, this promise can be a warning. After all, the implication is that if someone is reluctant to give mercy to others, then God will, in turn, be reluctant.
Jesus Was Quick To Lovingly Extend Mercy
The Bible is bursting with stories of Jesus showing mercy to all. Three examples are:
- "Jesus protecting the adulterous woman from the crowd wishing to stone her (John 8:1-11)"
- "Jesus healing the blind man (John 9:1-12)"
- "Jesus healing the man’s hand on the sabbath (Mark 3:1-6)"'
Not judging and being merciful is more than being a “nice” person. It’s spiritual physics. For every spiritual action there is an equal and opposite reaction. If you want the grace of mercy, you must show mercy.
Some Simple Ways To Make Showing Mercy A Bigger Part Of Your Life!
One way to give people mercy is to be patient with them. Maybe your spouse is having a hard day and they’ve done something that bothers you. Or perhaps a coworker who’s stressed out isn’t exactly pleasant. A little patience can be a wonderful way to cut them some slack and extend to them a little mercy.
Or maybe you see someone who is hurting. Maybe they’re going through an illness, or they’ve lost their job. A kind word or a small kind deed can be a thoughtful way to express mercy. What may seem like a small act of kindness to you could feel like a large godsend to someone in need.
A beautiful way to showing mercy could be to give someone a second chance. Maybe a friend or a loved one let you down or hurt you. Yes, giving that person a second chance could be a risk, but it could also be just the thing to help bring you BOTH more joy and blessing.
Be Merciful To All – Even Your Enemies.
Jesus told us in Matthew 5:44 to love our enemies. And that means showing mercy to all, even when it’s difficult. First, we should be merciful to all because it’s pleasing to God. And, of course, that should be reason enough. But for those who ask, “What’s in it for me?” Show mercy to all and God will, as promised in Matthew 5:7, bestow you abundantly with His gift of mercy.
