THE "TO BE" ATTITUDES: BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL

The fifth Beatitude is this:


Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

The merciful are tender-hearted. They feel the pain and suffering of others deeply. But then in addition to feeling, they step out in faith and help. Having compassion isn’t enough. Doing something is what mercy is all about.

We as believers must show mercy. The tricky part is to do so with readiness, gladness and affection; ready to give and forgive.

It’s about what Paul shares in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

To be merciful as a Christian does not mean to perform isolated, occasional acts of charity. A Christian is to be habitually merciful. And to do so with gratitude. It’s saying daily: "Thank you Father for letting me be on the giving end of mercy."

This Beatitude also deals with mercy through the act of daily forgiveness, by showing mercy towards people who wrong you. Jesus demands that we forgive one another just as he is constantly forgiving you.

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6: 14-15)

God shows us mercy, not when we are good, but when we are wicked and powerless. Yet God is merciful. He feels our pain and extends mercy freely. It’s God’s example for living: be merciful toward others and we will be blessed by God’s mercy to us.
　

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for your mercy. Please remind us each day that you love us—wrecked sinners that we are. Please help us show mercy to others, whether they deserve it or not. Break our hearts as your heart is broken and then help us do something about it. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Is there an area of mercy you need to work on? For me, it’s doing it with "affection."