SETTLING MY HEART BY SHOWING MERCY

Mercy is the act of being compassionate or kind toward someone who does not deserve it.  God showed mercy towards us by sending Jesus into the world, not to condemn us for our sin, but to save us from it.  How then should we respond when dealing with others?

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  (Matthew 5:7, Ephesians 4:32 NIV)

When a person stands before a judge for a crime they have committed, what are they hoping for?  Their lawyer will likely have prepared them for the expected penalty for the crime but they still have hope that the judge will show mercy and give a lesser sentence. 

God, the righteous judge, did not give us a lesser sentence than the one we deserved for our sin.  Instead, He sent Jesus into the world to be our substitute.  Jesus paid the penalty for our sin in full and cleared our record.  God’s love and mercy towards us is freely given.  We should then be like God and freely offer to others forgiveness, love, and mercy.  Forgiveness and mercy come from a heart that has been changed by the extravagant love of God for us.

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed.  All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.  We have left God’s paths to follow our own.  Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6 NLT)

We are not acting with compassion and mercy if we are choosing to call others to account for every unkind thing they say or do or if our desire is that they suffer for mean things they have done to us in the past. 

Showing mercy and forgiveness is proof that we are walking in the light of God’s love, and it has brought peace to our souls and settled our hearts.

Heavenly Father, I confess that I have been reluctant to forgive those who have harmed me.  Fill me with Your love and compassion so that I can be like You and show kindness and mercy from a generous heart. Amen