The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy.
- Matthew 5:7
To be merciful is to be sympathetic, and compassionate (actively, rather than passively), to help someone afflicted or someone seeking aid. Jesus showed compassion when He healed people, particularly the guy who had leprosy, or the woman who was bleeding for so many years - He wasn't even mad at her; He showed mercy.
Meanwhile, as He's walking toward the guy with leprosy His disciples were pleading with Him not to get close. After the woman touched His garment people around Him were saying He's unclean. Bruh, He's the Savior of the world... unclean isn't the way I'd describe Jesus. But that's me.
Even though there were these worldly, fleshly ideas everyone around Jesus had about these "unclean" people, He had compassion and mercy on them.
Jesus was the one to get close. Jesus was the one who knelt down to the woman caught in adultery. Jesus was the one to talk to the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus was the one who calmed the storm when His disciples were feeling fearful. Jesus was the one who went to the cross.
Mercy.
We're called to that too.
But how? How do we show mercy toward others?
We extend mercy by being who we're called to be. Who does Father God say you are? He's the Creator; He has a magnificent plan for you and your life. Who are you, dear one, according to Him?
I created an entire series diving into who God says we are in Christ, so if you're struggling with your identity in Him, I recommend you go back to those blog posts or watch my videos on Rumble or YouTube.
Additionally, you could take a closer look at the Fruits of the Spirit. They aren't just 'nice to be' things - no, they're a calling by God. They are the way God wants His kids to be, and, just like with mercy, you have to plant the seed to get the fruit. In other words, if you want to be more merciful you have to FIRST show mercy, and if you want to be more patient you have to choose to show patience toward others.
We'll be doing a deep dive study together on the Fruits of the Spirit in 2024! Stay tuned - I'm so excited!
I want to also differentiate mercy from grace - they're similar but not the same. From my understanding, granting mercy is showing compassion for someone who's in a bad way, a social outcast, or someone who's struggling with addiction, or money issues by helping them out.
Example: years ago, one of my best friends and her husband gave us enough money to pay our heating bill so that we could get back to zero, and start building up our ER fund. Mercy.
Grace is extending patience toward someone who is in a bad way, makes bad choices, hurts you, or is struggling in some way. Extending grace, to me, means you don't lash out, you give them another chance, you pray for them, and just have patience for them.
Example: my teenage son consistently forgets to pick up his socks in the living room (if you're a boy-mom, girl you know...). Instead of yelling at him (as much as I'm tempted to) or grounding him, I simply tell him to stop what he's doing and pick up his socks (for the 2947th time). Grace.
And I will always give the disclaimer that if you're being abused by someone - emotionally, physically, spiritually, mentally, sexually, financially, or verbally - you are not expected to be a doormat. EVER. If you're in an abusive relationship of any kind, extending grace might look like taking a break from the relationship for your own safety, and also to give the other person time to think about how they will treat you moving forward.
Sometimes separation is showing grace.
If you'd like to do a deeper dive into mercy, here are some bible passages to check out:
- Mark 11:25-26
- Luke 6:36
- Mark 12:31
- Lamentations 3:22-23
- Colossians 3:12-13
- Proverbs 11:17
- James 2:13
- Micah 6:8
- Hebrews 8:12
Watch and listen on Rumble or YouTube!
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