Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. - Luke 6:36
In many of the Epistles, the Apostles began with the wonderful phrase: “Grace and mercy.” If God began writing many of His holy Letters to us in this manner, then we should do also in our own fellowship with others in the body of Christ. In the beginning of the Book of Jude we read, “Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.” Do we find it easy to wish mercy on others in abundance or are we quick to condemn? One that finds it easy to judge others has lost the perspective that he was shown much mercy from God. For it is by grace and mercy we have been saved by the blood of God’s Son. In the Book of Titus it says: “Not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.”
When we start to look at another’s problems more than our own, we are in a dangerous place in our walk with the Lord. Our Lord Jesus taught a wonderful parable on mercy in Matthew 18. Sadly, it ends with the judging of the wicked servant who did not show mercy but rather had a ministry of choking others: “Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” Do we demand of others what we do not accomplish ourselves? “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 judgement.” God will show great blessing on those who have been merciful to others. Leaders especially in the body of Christ need to be shown great mercy as they seek to serve others the best they can. If many of us were put in the same position of these leaders we easily judge, ourselves we would find would fall greatly short. Be merciful today, it will release you and give you great peace to allow God's mercy to be shown through you to others.
