Blessed are the Merciful

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Matthew 5:7

What does it mean to be merciful?

According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, mercy means 1. compassion, leniency, or restraint shown especially to an offender or to one subject to the power of another. 2. a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion 3. compassionate treatment of those in distress.

Interesting that each of those definitions use the word 'compassion' which according to Merriam-Webster defines as a sympathetic consciousness of other's distress together with a desire to alleviate it.

Graham Cooke emphasizes that "mercy is not just a mechanism for forgiveness, but the foundation of our identity in Christ and a daily invitation to start fresh."

Walking in mercy then, leads us to forgiveness, when we release the offender from our hook of holding them accountable and place them on God's hook.

Graham Cooke also says that mercy removes the barrier of past failures and protects us from the weight of our mistakes. He challenges us to allow God's grace to lift us up, aligning us with God's heart, instead of lowering our standards.

I like that challenge. It moves me toward being merciful instead of casting shame, doubt, judgment upon others, causing deep woundings. It also moves me from the place of living in my own sin, and allowing the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to be enough. I no longer have to live as one who is unworthy and ashamed. Instead I can walk in freedom.

God's mercy sent us His Son, Jesus, to be the sacrifice, the payment, for our sins. His precious blood poured out so that we could receive eternal life.

"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."

Psalm 103:8

I am reminded then of God's mercies.

"Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Indeed, we have received mercy from the Lord. It is His mercy that withholds the punishment we deserve. His mercy sent His only Son, Jesus, to be the sacrifice for our sins. It is by His mercy that we can daily walk with Him, in His ways and offer mercy to others.

Therefore the only righteous response to the mercy we have so freely been given, is to offer mercy to others.

Mercy calls us to forgive others as we have been forgiven. Ephesians 4:32

Mercy reminds us to judge not lest we be judged. Matthew 7:1-5

Mercy treats others with kindness so that we can be treated with kindness. Ephesians 4:32

Mercy offers grace when grace is needed. Romans 12:17-18

Mercy gives to those who are less fortunate. Proverbs 31:8-9

Mercy offers healing to the broken-hearted. Psalms 147:3

In this, we are living out the special calling upon every Christians' life; to be holy.

Mercy triumphs over judgment.

"For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:13

"but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" I Peter 1:15-16

Friends, we are called to be merciful because we have received mercy. In this Beatitude, Jesus promises us that when we are merciful, we will then receive mercy.

It's a win-win scenario!

Dear Jesus, we thank you for the mercies that You show us every day! We get to live in your great mercy and faithfulness. Help us to give mercy when it is in our power to do so. Help us to live our lives as a witness to your great love for us. Let us be so contagious that others will want the essence we get to carry, as followers of Christ. Give us everything we need to walk in mercy. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.