Think back on a time when you were shown mercy…
Maybe you owed someone money, but they decided to cancel your debt. And you hurt someone you love, but they gave you another chance. Maybe you made a huge mistake, but you received forgiveness instead of punishment.
In the fifth of the beatitudes, a series of promises Jesus made about God’s Kingdom, Jesus said this:
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 NIV
Because we are imperfect sinners who have all fallen short of God’s glorious standards, we all deserve death. We all deserve punishment. We all deserve to be eternally separated from God.
“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT
Jesus is passionate about justice and righteousness while simultaneously fervent about grace and mercy.
That’s why He paid the ultimate price for us—so that we could truly live. He conquered the grave—to mercifully save our souls. That’s why He sent His Spirit—so that we could also show mercy.
To be clear, grace and mercy, while similar, aren’t the same. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve (an unwarranted gift) while mercy is not getting what you do deserve (judgment and wrath).
And while it’s easier said than done, His people are called to be merciful. Even when someone has wronged you. Yes, even when they don’t deserve your kindness. Yes, even when you don’t feel like being merciful.
Jesus has shown us mercy. And now? We can offer it to others.
Let Us Pray
God, Your nature is to offer mercy. When people meet me, I want them to know You live in me.
Give me opportunities to demonstrate Your mercy to those around me. As my faith grows, please give me a deeper ability to offer mercy to others.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
You can also send your Prayer requests to us on any areas of concern, we will join hands with you to Pray, we will invite the Diadem Christian Family to intercede for you in Prayers. (Contact us through the contact page, email or WhatsApp
