Mercy is compassion, pity, sympathy, loving consideration, and help. Mercy refrains from harming or punishing an offender. it is kindness beyond what fairness expects.
A merciful person will meet the needs of a neighbor. A merciful person feels for the suffering of others and delights in relieving them. Matthew 5:7- Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Christ exemplified mercy as he dealt with people in his ministry on earth. We need to remember the love, forgiveness, and mercy which God shows to us. Psalm 86:5- For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. And Titus 3:5- Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
A lawyer wanted to make himself look good or perhaps even feel better, so he asked Jesus, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
But Jesus knew what he was up to. Jesus wanted to teach him that he was a sinner. "What is written in the Law?" Jesus asked.
The lawyer answered, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."
Now remember, he was a lawyer. Lawyers are known for being ruthless. Christ reponded, "This do and live."
He must have had someone in mind. He was probably nice to those who lived around him. So he asked, "Who is my neighbor?" The Bible says he was trying to justify himself. He knew he hadn't done this.
So Christ told the story of the Good Samaritan.
As you know, a Jewish man was on a journey and got robbed and beaten up and left for dead. A priest and a Levite walked by and didn't even come near to help him. As the man laid there in pain and despair, he heard someone else coming. He peeked out his eyes and saw a Samaritan. "I am forever doomed," he thought, "for no enemy would help me. He will probably finish me off."
But the Samaritan stopped and looked at the man, and his heart filled with compassion and pity. He treated the man's cuts and bruises and then bandaged them. He took the man to an inn and took care of him all that night. As the wounded man fell asleep, he wondered what would become of him.
The next day, he awoke to the inn keeper. "How will I explain this debt for which I cannot pay?" But the inn keeper made no mention of the debt. He just continued to care for the man.
When he was strong enough to leave, he asked the inn keeper of his debt. But the inn keeper replied, "The Samaritan asked me to care for you, and he said he would pay me when he came thru next."
Who showed mercy? By helping bandage the wounds, the man showed kindness. By helping the man to the inn, he showed graciousness. Most Christians would think that was enough. But this man had been robbed, he had no money. He showed mercy when he stepped beyond his human emotions. He helped this man's future, also.
1 John 3:17- But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Mercy results from a love of God infused into our lives. One who shows mercy to others, receives mercy in return. When you are merciful to others, God will show you his mercy thru his grace and thru other Christians.
Mercy results from a love of God infused into our lives. One who shows mercy to others, receives mercy in return. When you are merciful to others, God will show you his mercy thru his grace and thru other Christians.
