Monday’s Blog: Blessed Are The Merciful
We are halfway through our series on the Beatitudes. If you missed any of the previous posts in this series you can view them here. This week we move on to Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.â€
James 2:12-13 says, “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!â€
This is a strong command. If we are not merciful to others, we will not be shown mercy.
Why does God tell us to be merciful? Because we have sinned against Him immeasurably more than anything anyone can do to us. When we realize how much mercy God has given us, we have no excuse but to have mercy on others.
Those who understand how much they have been forgiven for will have a merciful heart toward others.
In Luke 7, a woman who had lived a sinful life came and wet Jesus’ feet with her tears. While the Pharisees were quick to judge her, Jesus had mercy on her. He expressed, “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little” (Luke 7:47).
I think it’s often harder to be merciful toward those who are struggling with something we haven’t experienced before. For instance, I have a lot of mercy for parents, and couples struggling in their marriages. I have made a lot of mistakes in my marriage and raising my children, but God has shown me mercy.
When I see a parent frustrated with their children, while others are pointing their fingers in disgust, I want to run and hug the parent. I have mercy because I understand their struggles. I know it is impossible to be a good parent without God’s grace. Therefore, I can’t judge parents when they lose their patience.
I’m the same way toward spouses who are causing trouble in their marriages. When someone shares a marriage problem with me, I find myself feeling sorrow for the spouse who is doing wrong, because I know what it is like to be blinded by sin. You don’t see how much you are hurting your family.
This doesn’t mean we have to be in everyone’s situation to have mercy on others. Jesus was already tempted in every way. So we learn how to be merciful to others through Him.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
—Hebrews 4:15-16
One thing I have prayed often is for God to help me see people through His eyes. I want to see others as God sees them. I don’t want to have an unmerciful heart because I need God’s mercy. I know what I am like without Him. And if I need His mercy, then others need it as well.
While God softens our hearts toward others, we still need to show mercy. Don’t wait until you have a merciful heart to give mercy, because you likely won’t feel it until after you do it.
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**Prayer for the week**
Heavenly Father,
We praise You for Your great mercy on us. We know we have been forgiven for more than anything anyone can ever do to us. Help us to use this knowledge to be merciful toward others, so we will be shown mercy when we stumble. Â Â
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen!
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*Come back next Monday as I share more of God’s Truths and the reasons behind the Truths.
*All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted.
Posted in Beatitudes Series, Monday's Blogs by Amanda Beth with 17 comments.
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