"Freely you received, freely give"

“BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY WILL BE SHOWN MERCY”

In any relationship, the more you are around a person, the more you take on their tendencies and traits. Likewise, when we hang around Jesus, we become more like Him. Jesus is mercy. Therefore, mercy in us is a sign that we are following Jesus.

Mercy is showing kindness and granting pardon. What stood out to me in the story of the good Samaritan is that mercy does not demand to know and understand reason. The Samaritan did not care if the man was guilty or innocent of his suffering. It is easy for me to show kindness to those that I believe deserve it, but if I deem them unworthy of my kindness and forgiveness, it is a lot harder to extend mercy to them.

Praise the Lord for showing us mercy when we cry out to Him!

This made me think of Jesus’ instruction given in Matthew 10:5-8, “These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, ‘do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach saying, ‘the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give.’”

Since our King has shown us great mercy, we too should show mercy. N.T. Wright says it well in his book, Following Jesus, “Jesus is lifted up to draw us all to Himself, and to enable us to be for the world what He was for the World.”

Lord, show me your ways and allow me to have compassion and mercy for all, as You have done so for me.