Undeserved

Matthew 5:7

God blesses those who are merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.  (NLT)

     The Lord commands us to be holy as He is holy; to be other than; to set our lives apart from the ways of this fallen world; to show mercy when needed and to always be gracious.  But because we live in a fallen world made up of imperfect, sin flawed people who are basically self-centered, showing mercy can often go by the wayside.  There are some people who are just plain cruel and unkind, but most people become so self-focused that showing mercy is hardly an option, because living is all about them.  God's mercy is not giving us what we deserve for our love of sin.  Because of His great love for mankind, He has made the Way for us to escape what we deserve, for He knows we cannot earn what we don't deserve.  By living in the Way, mercy becomes a fruit of the Spirit that lives in the hearts of those whose who belong to Christ Jesus.  The Christian faith is grounded in the mercy and forgiveness that is offered to everyone.  The unconditional love, mercy, and the amazing grace of God is what sets Christianity apart from all other world views and religions. 

     It is because of God’s great love for mankind that He showed us His mercy by suffering and dying for our sins so we would be spared the final condemnation that every sin brings.  It is by accepting this gift of God’s mercy that we, too, are able to be merciful to others, especially to those who hurt us.  We live in a world whose people are oblivious to this Truth and are unknowingly on the road to their own destruction.  For those of us who have received God's mercy, we must step up to the plate and be merciful to those who reject God's ways.   We are to pass God's mercy on to others; one precious soul at a time.  As the people of God’s Church, chosen by Christ and called by His Name, we are commissioned to show mercy to all those who need God's mercy.  But even more important, we are commanded to show others the dire need that we all have for God’s mercy and forgiveness for without it, we are forever separated from the King of Mercy and dead in our sin.

                                                                 

                                     A Whisper of Hope

What you sow, My child…so shall you reap.  Be merciful to others, as I am merciful to you.  When you show mercy to others, you are really shinning My Light into their lives.  Forgive others as I have forgiven you, because by forgiving those who hurt you, you are living in the Truth of My Light.

James 2:13

For there will be no mercy for you if you have

not been merciful to others.  But if you have

been merciful, then God’s mercy toward you

will win out over His judgment against you.  (NLT)

                 

                 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens.

                                 (Psalm 57:10)