One of the marks of mercy…

We are looking at the marks of a person who has mercy and one mark is I will be patient with those who are peculiar. 

I Thessalonians 5.14 (NIV) says, “...Encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”  

Are you patient with everyone?  I’m not. The Bible says if I’m merciful, I’ll be patient with those who are peculiar. 

How can you be patient with those who are peculiar?  You learn their background.  When you understand where a person comes from, you stop saying, “Look how far they’ve got to go,” and start saying, “Look how far they’ve come!”  That makes you a little more patient. 

You look beneath the external behavior, the goofiness, and look at the internal pain.  Because behind every peculiar behavior there’s loneliness, hurt, depression, or a kind of anxiety that GOD says we need to look at. 

The Bible says in Romans 15.7 (NLT), “…accept each other just as CHRIST has accepted you…”

Merciful people are accepting people.  They’re not quick to criticize, to judge.  They realize that hurtful people are hunting people. 

Just a thought from the front porch…