Matthew 5:7
“Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.”
Venturing a guess, I would expect that almost every one of us would gladly receive mercy when we have wronged someone, suffered from illness or disaster, or have been an outcast. Sadly, in today’s world, we witness very little evidence of mercy extended but a whole heap of so-called justice or “he got what he deserved” attitude, don’t we? Or a response to those suffering that “let someone else help.” And then there are those who feel worthless, rejected, despised, and bogged down by past mistakes. The definition of mercy is compassion for people in need. It is our job to offer mercy to those who offend us, help the suffering, and tell the hopeless among us that they have infinite worth and are beloved by God. We can make a difference in the world by offering mercy.
In the previous devotions of this series on The Beatitudes, we have touched on the first four which focus on the upward growth of our personal relationship with Christ. We shall see how the next four Beatitudes are a picture of our outward growth or how our relationship with Christ helps us to relate to others. Charles Spurgeon said it this way, “Not only do the Beatitudes rise one above another, but they spring out of each other, as if each one depended upon all that went before. Each growth feeds a higher growth and the seventh is the product of all the other six.”
For example, a merciful attitude is produced by the first four Beatitudes. As we are humble and recognize our need for a Savior, as we are broken over our sin, as we learn to loosen our grip of control on our lives to wait and trust on the Lord, and as we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we naturally become merciful toward others. Mercy is an outgrowth of poverty of spirit, grief over sin, meekness, and hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Jesus witnessed little mercy in His three years of ministry, but He set the ultimate example of someone who was merciful as He prepared His Disciples for their own ministries, teaching by example and through parables. Here are a few of those examples:
• A prodigal son wasted his inheritance? Welcome him home.
• A sexual offender? Minister to her.
• A thieving tax collector? Eat dinner with him.
• An untouchable leper? Touch him.
• An insane demoniac? Kick out the demons.
• A cautious Pharisee? Meet him at night.
• Some overlooked children? Bless them.
• Disabled? Blind? Injured? Sick? Heal them all.
• An only son dead? Raise him up.
• Hungry listeners in the middle of nowhere? Feed them.
• Frustrated fishermen? Bring in the fish.
• A disciple ashamed of himself? Give him hope.
• Enemies? Forgive them.*
In modern, practical terms for our day, mercy is refusing to see your enemy as an enemy. Mercy is not glorying in the suffering of another. Mercy is seeing a person, not a stereotype. Mercy is lifting others up not tearing them down. Mercy is not exacting revenge but offering grace.
Jesus has shown all of that towards us, Who through His mercy, has forgiven us and now calls us His own. Luke 6:36, reminds us, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Jesus was mercy personified, reflecting the character of God and His power, offering Himself as an example to the Disciples.
And He hasn’t even gone to the Cross yet…
Father in Heaven, O how I love Your mercy! I deserved Your justice for my sin but You heard my plea for mercy and forgave and received me as your child. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus, who came to teach us how to be merciful and, in so doing, to glorify You. Remind us daily how to show mercy to others for Your sake and for the sake of Your Kingdom. In the merciful name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
*Portions adapted from Steve Larson at Christian Refuge
Painting, “Works of Mercy” by Jen Norton
