Mercy is defined as “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.”
The world seems very short on mercy these days.
We would expect followers of Jesus to be the most merciful.
God said,
“I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
Hosea 6:6
Jesus repeated God’s Desire by saying, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’”
Matthew 9:13
Jesus said, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
Luke 6:36
When soldiers were crucifying Jesus, He asked God to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing.
Did they really not know they were torturing and killing Him? Of course, they knew. But they did not realize the full impact of what they were doing.
We also rarely see the full impact of what we are doing when we act against any other creation of God.
And whoever is acting against us likely does not realize the full impact of what they are doing.
What if we all worked on extending grace and mercy to everyone around us, not because we feel like it, but simply because God wants us to do it.
Instead of reacting with a “how dare you,” practice “Father, I forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.”
And then thank God for His Mercy to you at all those times you did not know what you were doing.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
Matthew 5:7
Because of His Great Love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:4-6
So let us come boldly to the throne of our Gracious God. There we will receive His Mercy and we will find Grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:16
