If we study the Beatitudes in Matt. 5, we can think about them as a TREE.
The ROOTS are: – to be POOR in spirit, to MOURN and to be MEEK, which
lead us to the TRUNK of the tree – to HUNGER and THIRST FOR
RIGHTEOUSNESS. This righteousness produces the next 3 beatitudes,
which represent FRUITS of righteousness, namely MERCY, PURITY, and
PEACE.
We’ll study mercy today. 2 Cor. 5:21 says; “God made Him (Jesus) who
had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the
righteousness of God.” THAT IS MERCY! Father God’s mercy is the
driving force that helps us to have a right relationship with Him.
What is mercy? Synonyms for mercy = pity, compassion, forgiveness,
kindness, understanding, sympathy. Mercy = “HESED” in Hebrew =
God’s loving kindness. Mercy is a natural, genuine, and essential
characteristic of God. Without God’s mercy; no one would receive
salvation, redemption, or sanctification.
How does a heart become merciful? Mercy comes from a heart that has
first felt its spiritual poverty and has come to grieve over its sin. Mercy
learns to wait meekly for the timing of the Lord, to cry out in hunger for
His mercy to satisfy the soul with the righteousness we need. Mercy
comes from mercy. The key to becoming a merciful person is to become a
broken person, to die to self so that Christ can live fully in us.
If we read Luke 10:25-37 – the parable of the Good Samaritan, we can
learn the following: – Mercy notices distress with loving compassion
(verse 33: ” A Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he (the
wounded Jew) was; and he SAW him and took pity/COMPASSION on him.”
Mercy responds externally with a practical effort to relieve suffering
(verse 34: ”He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and
wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and
took care of him”).
Mercy needs to happen even when the person in distress is of another
religion, culture, or faith, even an enemy (V 33: ” But a Samaritan . . . ”).
An “enemy” with a distorted religious tradition stops to help the Jew who
“hates” him. How much MORE we need to be merciful and forgive those
who wound us or help those who are in need and be merciful as our Lord
is merciful towards us.
Loving precious Lord Jesus, thank You for Your merciful compassion which
drove You to an agonizing death on a Cross, so that I can receive Your gift
of mercy and grace. Please help me to be merciful to others just as You
are merciful towards me.
Myrtle Turunen