I wish to encourage you to walk in mercy.
The psalmist declares that “the LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made” (Psalms 145:8-9). Job explained God’s impartial mercy to all mankind in that He “shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands” (Job 34:19).
Mercy is spoken of often in Scripture, mostly as integral to God’s holy character. Generally, mercy speaks of great compassion and deep love, agape styled love. In fact, biblical grace depicts that we who are underserving of God’s love have had mercy shown to us. God’s matchless love and His incomparable compassion motivated Him to sacrificially send His Son from Heaven, to an unworthy and rebellious world of sinners. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been save” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
Walking in mercy begins with the Cross, walking/living daily in dependence upon “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). From that beginning of spiritual rebirth, God’s mercy is established in our souls as the only foundation on which His Holy Spirit builds our sanctifying relationship with the Almighty through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
As God’s people, we should be identifiable by God’s mercy. “Thus says the LORD of hosts, render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart” (Zechariah 7:9-10). As recipients of God’s mercy, we are to “be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh” (Jude 1:22-23). God’s mercy, through Christ, should impact us so noticeably that it transforms us to become with ever increasing intensity, believers who dispense mercy to others (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Our prayers should resound with humble certainty, as we “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). The certainty of our eternal hope in Christ enables us to say; “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalms 23:6). Our faith clings to Jesus words; “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7).
Mercy is not weak, it’s not a compromiser, its not indecisive or unreliable. Rather, mercy carries a heavenly focus, a divine reflection of Christ’s character for the purpose of His glory and pleasure. Mercy authenticates the believers evangelistic efforts as we tell the lost of the only compassionate Saviour this world shall ever know. Mercy seeks reconciliation of damaged relationships because mercy “is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).
Be encouraged today, reach out to God, grasp hold of His mercy found in Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Saviour. Invite the Holy Spirit to make you a vehicle of His mercy for others who so desperately need to experience the soul saving grace of God!