Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7
Do you need mercy? I know I do. I imagine you sense the same need in yourself … the need to not be treated as we deserve. We treasure mercy precisely because we know we don’t deserve it and therefore can’t earn it. This makes it priceless. As our need for it increases, our worthiness has decreased proportionally to that need. We would like to prove ourselves worthy, but mercy is only needed when we have proven ourselves unworthy of receiving it. Quite a quandary!
However, in this Beatitude, Jesus tells us that the blessing of giving mercy is receiving it. So one of the blessings of being merciful is that other people tend to give more mercy to those who show mercy themselves. It’s not that showing mercy earns it, but apparently it’s easier to give to people who aren’t so hung up on justice and fairness and only getting what you deserve.
So, if you like to receive mercy from other people, then assume the best about them whether they deserve it or not. If mercy strikes you as a favorable experience, then give people the benefit of the doubt again and again. If you find mercy to be pleasant, then give people a chance they haven’t earned. If you understand mercy to be priceless, then don’t judge the motives of people’s hearts, don’t be quick to condemn, let forgiveness be your modus operandi. If you want mercy, then show mercy.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38)
– Deryk Pritchard, Preacher
