the problem with mercy…

we’re looking at ways you can bless people with your words and this one is a little difficult.

you bless others when you offer mercy.

the truth is we all stumble, we all sin, we all blow it, we all make mistakes, we’re all imperfect.  so we all need massive doses of mercy.  since we’re all imperfect this may be the most common way to bless other people.  when people around you make a mistake – at work, at school, at home – what do you do?  you should show mercy. 

2 corinthians 2.7 (cev), when people sin you should forgive and comfort them so they won’t give up in despair.  it’s what you do after people make a mistake that makes the real difference in their lives.  do you write them off?  do you put them on your black list?  do you hold a grudge and say, “i’m not going to associate with you any more.”  or do you as the bible says comfort and forgive them so they don’t give into despair. 

mercy is an attitude of GOD.  in fact, over 100 times in the old testament it says, “GOD is merciful.”  if you’re going to learn to be like GOD, if you’re going to learn to grow spiritually and become like JESUS CHRIST, you must learn to be merciful.  the bible says in ephesians 2.4 (Gw), GOD is rich in mercy. 

here’s the problem.  there’s only one way to learn mercy.  by being hurt.  that’s the only way you’re going to learn it.  you see, if nobody ever hurt you and you never have to forgive anybody and if you never have to forgive anybody you’re going to never learn to be like GOD.  so GOD is going to allow some pain, allow some hurt, allow some difficulties in your life where you learn to express mercy.  mercy is treating people just the way GOD treats them. 

you’re never going to have to forgive anybody more than GOD has already forgiven you.  this is the motivation for our mercy.  colossians 3.13 (lb), remember the LORD forgave you so you must forgive others.  we’ve been shown mercy so that’s our motivation.  GOD’s been merciful to me.  i need to be merciful to others.  i need to cut them some slack. 

every time you’re hurt you’ve got a choice.  am i going to use my energy for retaliation or for reconciliation?  am i going to use my energy to get even or to get well?  am i going to use my energy for revenge or am i going to use it for restoration?  you don’t have enough energy to do both.  GOD says, “you want to bless people?  when they blow it, when they make mistakes, when they hurt you, show them mercy.  i have shown mercy to you.  i want you to show mercy to them.” 

just a thought from the front porch…