Week 2 | Day 4 | Mercy in Motion

Command:

You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. Matthew 3:38-39 (NIV)

Read:

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (NIV)

Reflect:

I remember a time when my son was in his elementary years, and he asked me, “Why do I have to take a shower if I’m going to get dirty anyway?” I responded simply that since God made everything, including ourselves, whatever God made is important to God and we should respect and take care of it. What we do and don’t do matters. Looking back, I could see his point in asking, “Why do it if it’s just going to get messed up again anyway?”

Many times, we take that stance when extending mercy to others. Mercy is the compassionate treatment toward someone when it's in your power to punish them. Sometimes our hearts are so calloused or hardened because of being unappreciated, hurt, betrayed, rejected or unloved, that we start to wonder, “What’s the point?” Then we talk ourselves out of acting with mercy by saying, “Things will never change, they will never change, or flat out they don’t deserve it.” To show mercy, we are living out Jesus' example of the price he paid for us when he showed us mercy while we were still sinners. 

I am reminded of what scripture says, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14 (NIV) Are we going to succeed every time with everyone? Probably not. However, we do our part and let God do the rest. As believers of Christ, we are to reflect his light, love, and compassion. We can’t change or control others, but we can be a catalyst for change in our family, in our workplace, in our schools, and wherever God has strategically placed us. Mercy is not an isolated act but the lifestyle of a believer.

React:

What opportunity to show mercy comes to mind? Who is someone that you can show mercy to today?

Pray:

Lord, I ask you to heal any areas of my heart that would hinder me from showing mercy and compassion to others. Lord, remind me of all the times you showed me grace and never gave up on me, and help me extend that to others and see others through the eyes of mercy.