Happy Independence Day!
Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
If we want to become merciful it's important we get a view of God and ourselves that helps us say with all of our heart that every joy and virtue and goodness of our lives is owed to the free and undeserved mercy of God.
The Pharisees were caught up in ceremonial cleansings and keeping themselves pure in their minds. Jesus was focused in helping those in need. He sought to save, help, and accept them as they were. Jesus seeks the lost to become what God wants them to become part of His forever family. There will come a time for judgment, but mercy is extended while there is time. .” Jesus showed kindness to those in need: the lame, the blind, the deaf, the poor, the sick, the prostitutes, the tax collector.
In doing His will, our hearts reach out to others with the same mercy that God has shown to us. If we have received such tremendous mercy, can we fail to be merciful to others? Christians are to be characterized by having more concern for the salvation of others than the personal rights of ourselves. James 2:13 “…because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Treat others the way you want to be treated. Give a little you'll get back a little; give a lot you get back a lot. As we thirst for righteousness in our lives, we find our hearts more and more broken for the needy. We are quick to forgive and desire to resolve differences.
In the novel, Les Misérables, Victor Hugo tells the story of Jean Valjean who stole a loaf of bread to feed his sister's starving children. After serving 19 years for his crime, he was unable to find work because he had been a convict. he came to the home of a Christian bishop who kindly gave him supper and a place to sleep. Yielding to the temptation however Valjean stole the bishop’s silver plates and slipped out into the night, but he was apprehended and brought back to the scene of the crime. The kind bishop did not want to prosecute the man so deciding to try to win him to the Lord. He told officers the plates were a gift. Turning to Valjean he said “and do not forget to take the candlesticks.” The criminal was astounded. This kindness later resulted in his conversion and brought a deep sense of joy to the compassionate Bishop. His life was changed for the good because of mercy.
God will reward us with additional blessing and increased happiness as Ralph Scott comments, “Kindness is a hard thing to give away, it keeps coming back to the giver.” It's not easy. It isn't our nature; we want revenge. I saw one T-shirt which said, “I don't get mad I get even. James; 1:13 says “God will not show mercy when he judges the man who has not been merciful.”
When we recite the Lord's Prayer we say, “Lord forgive me my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me” Mercy is the outcome of being yielded to God - like Joseph showed to his brothers who wronged him and sold him into slavery; like Moses showed to the Israelites again and again when they rebelled against him; like Stephen prayed for the prosecutors throwing stones at him, “Father forgive them, they do not know what they're doing”.
Think about when you received mercy and forgiveness from someone. Think about when you showed mercy to another.
