Showing Mercy

Matthew 5:7

            “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary fount at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mercy the definition of “mercy” is:  “compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power”.

For me it is very easy to show mercy to those who I love and care for.  I can even show mercy to those who have less than me, who have been less fortunate in life, who are downcast and rejected by this world but . . .there it is in the definition “especially to an offender”.  Grrrr, why did the definition have to add that?!?  The word offender indicates that someone has done something wrong and most likely, it has affected me in some way or another.   The answer to that question can be found just a few verses from the one we just read and again it is Jesus speaking:

Matthew 5:43-47

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. (44) But I tell you:  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (45) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.  He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on righteous and the unrighteous.  (46) If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?  Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  (47)And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others?  Do not even pagans do that?”

Wow, that really puts me in my place.  If I want to be shown mercy, I should ask myself how well I am showing mercy to others.  Today as you think about being merciful, think not about your friends or those who you think deserve your compassion but think of those who have hurt you and show mercy to them.  Remember to pray for them as Christ instructs us to do.

Christ did not only instruct us to do this, He displays it on the cross.  As He was hanging between two men who were offenders and He in the middle who had committed not crime, He showed mercy.  Look at Luke 23:41-43, one thief on the cross recognized he needed to be shown mercy when he says,

(41)“We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.  But this man has done nothing wrong. (42) The he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. (43) Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” 

At this point you may be thinking that this man asked to be shown mercy, he had recognized the authority of the one who had the power to give him his just punishment but let’s look at another time just prior to that where he showed mercy to those who did not ask for it.  In Luke 23 gives us the account of Jesus trial and the sentence of death that was given to Him by the crowd.  One criminal was released and Jesus took his place (along with ours) on the cross.  As they were beating Him, stripping Him of His clothes, spitting in His face, mocking Him, this was what Jesus prayed,

Luke 23:34 “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  

 Now, that is a prime example of what He said when He told us to pray for our enemies.  That is the ultimate example of showing mercy.

When we seek the Lord with all our hearts we discover His greatness more and more.  As you seek Him today seek and follow His example of mercy and show mercy to someone who needs it, not someone who necessarily you feel deserves it.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila