“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7. NLT). After this week we will be taking a pause from the Beatitudes, as Holy Week starts this coming Sunday; Palm Sunday. For now let me start this week’s post with a story. I have never been a big man, but I also have never been one to walk away from a fight. In my B.C. days, yep before Christ; before I committed my life to Him, I got into a number of fist fights. Most of the time because I shot my mouth off to the wrong person. So here I was having the stuffing knocked out of me by a guy which was twice my size. At one point he ask me, if I have had enough. I said yes, so he got off me, turned his back to me and I kicked him in the rear. This caused him to turn around and start wailing on me again. Once again after a while he ask if I had enough. Again I said yes, as he stopped I grab some sand and threw it in his eyes and charged him. He breaks free, pins me to the ground and starts the beating all over. Eventually this guy has to knock me out before I give up. Throughout the fight, if you want to call it a fight; even though it was extremely one sided. I was too stupid and to stubborn to accept the mercy this guy was trying to extend me.
“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7). I know the above story does not get at the mercy Jesus is taking about here. But before we get into the meat of the passage. I wonder how often we are too stubborn to extend or receive the mercy we are given. The mercy which is in our best interest. Thus I tell the previous story.
So what is mercy? In short it is walking a mile in the other person’s shoes. It is looking at the world through their lenses. It is showing sympathy, to the individual. It is seeing the person who is in need of mercy as Jesus sees them. Hearing them as Jesus hears them and loving them as He does.
Mercy is extending forgiveness even when it is not deserved. Especially when it is not earned. I mentioned earlier Holy Week will begin this coming Sunday. Holy week is steeped in mercy. Jesus is beaten, spat upon, abandoned by His friends and nailed to a cross. These individuals who do this to Jesus is in need of lightning bolt to the rear end. Yet they are shown mercy and forgiveness. “Father forgiven them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34, NLT).
So I want you to ask yourself and God if there is someone in your past you need to so mercy. Are you chained by your past, do you need to be reminded of God’s love and mercy for you? Perhaps it is a stranger who God will lead into your path for you to show them His mercy. Whatever it is, remember “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7. NLT). Food for thought. Pastor Travis out.
