BE MERCIFUL
May 24, 2021
Prayer: Dearest Lord, I thank You for Your great mercy for me. You have purchased my salvation and provided everything that I have needed. I praise You. Amen.
Scriptures: But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5: 44-45 NAS
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35-36 35 NAS
Have you ever wondered why so many people who do not acknowledge God or – even more – practice wrongdoing as a lifestyle, are given the blessing of wealth, leadership, promotions, fame, and more? Let’s bring it closer to home; have you ever had someone you know well get a promotion or sudden windfall of some kind and you knew they did not deserve it? How did you respond to them? How did you respond privately?
We are called to give mercy as we have received mercy from God. Instead of punishment, I have received forgiveness. When I have made mistakes, I have been given compassion and a second chance. In Christ, I will not receive as I deserve, so why would I seek for others to only get what they deserve. How about you? What do you deserve? Are you a merciful educator? Can you forgive and forget? Do your students get a second chance? What about a third, fourth, or even fiftieth chance? At what point are they “a lost cause?” I thank God that even in my worst of times, He has never turned His back and called me “a lost cause.”
Secondly, God has placed it on my heart that it is not for me to decide who gets what blessings. God is God, and I am not. It is, however, my business how I respond to their blessing. Do I rejoice that they have received from God, or am I jealous, bitter, or questioning of the wisdom of the Almighty God as He chooses to give or take away? My response is all that I need to be concerned with – maybe that is my test, to check my heart and see that it does not have any seeds of pride, resentment, or jealousy lurking in there. It is not my decision as to who deserves to be blessed or not. My decision is the trust and gladness in my heart for the One Who holds all blessings in His power. My choice is contentment and thanksgiving for the blessings He has chosen to bestow on me – lest I believe for one moment that I deserved them.
My response, in any situation, should be a reflection of my relationship with Jesus Christ. My response should be filled with praise and thanksgiving knowing that I love and serve a compassionate, generous, wise, and loving God.
My prayer for you is that you would be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Copyright Kathy Branzell. Email [email protected]