The Merciful

For the past few weeks we have looked at the first four Beatitudes as found in Matthew 5. Each of these has shown us we have a "need". Each of them is all about what we need, and that need is for God and others.

The last four Beatitudes also have something in common, and that is, how we are to show Christ to the world through Christ-like qualities, by going beyond ourselves and reaching out to others.

The first Christ-like quality is to be "merciful". In Christ’s sermon He said, "Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy." This is an interesting remark in that we can’t really ‘give’ mercy or be merciful unless we have received that mercy through Grace from God. Then, we in turn are to reach out to others by showing mercy, and God in turn will bless us and show us mercy. It has the principle here of ‘reciprocity." (my spell checker even took this word!). He gives us mercy through salvation, we show mercy to others, and He gives us blessings.

To show mercy is to be merciful and show compassion. Jesus showed compassion in His healings. He showed compassion when it says He bore the ‘infirmities’ of the weak in Matthew 8:17. He showed compassion at Lazarus’ tomb when it says He wept. He shared in the feelings of Mary and Martha even though He knew what He was about to do. It was Jesus compassion and merciful spirit that was so forgiving and from the Cross He said "Father forgive them."

To be merciful is to learn from Jesus example and what He has done for us, and have compassion and be forgiving to others, even those who wrong us.

My Prayer (part of a prayer by A.W.Tozer in "The Knowledge of the Holy"):
"Holy Father...How can we thank thee enough for thy mercy which comes down to the lowest part of our need to give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and for the spirit of heaviness a garment of praise? We bless and magnify thy mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord." May I too, show mercy as Your ambassador in this world. In Jesus name, Amen