When I took this photo, I remember calling it my evil queen picture. There's just something almost kind of ominous and authoritative about my facial expression, posture, and pose. I kind of liked it, because I've always felt like people really only consider me as cutesy, which I really don't mind. I just enjoyed looking more mature, even if it pictured me as someone uncaring.
I know that it's just a photo, but I think more often people are taking this to another level. The world encourages us to view revenge, hatred, evilness, and unnecessary aggression when defending or standing up for others as desirable, strong, and cool. Whereas, with showing mercy, we're convinced it's for the weak.
This isn't how God operates. He calls us to not just be merciful, but to love the mercy we have. God is always ready to forgive and forget the hurt we do to Him. He loves everyone and wants all to accept His gifts of life and forgiveness. Furthermore, when standing up for others, Jesus never hit, shoved, or yelled. He didn't let the antagonizing continue, but would correct the people without hurting them.
The thing is being merciful can be hard. It takes a lot more strength to forgive others, love them, give them a 2nd chance, and figure out how to defend others in a God-honoring way than it does to let your emotions take over and propel you towards aggression. Being strong is to show mercy.
As we discussed last week, we shouldn’t act justly without loving others. When we try to love and treat people better, it allows God to transform our feelings and views toward them. This can grow the mercy that God has put inside us.
God makes it evident, through His Word, how important mercy is. This is shown by Jesus saying that those who show mercy will be blessed and shown mercy. Someone who isn’t willing to give mercy, shouldn’t just expect to receive it. Later, Jesus notes another thing about mercy – God desires mercy above sacrifice. He was quoting a verse from Hosea that encourages us to reflect more on how we inwardly posture ourselves toward God and others rather than on our outward actions. James, Jesus’ brother, continues in this mindset and tells us that mercy triumphs over judgement. If we’re struggling with judging others, we must work on defeating it with actively pursuing mercy.
We can love mercy more by engaging in: One, trying to see situations from another’s viewpoint. Instead of judging others, we should first think about it from their side, acknowledge that they might see things differently, and understand that they have struggles just like everybody else. Two, looking to God for help and inspiration, for He’s rich in mercy. His mercy is the purest, for He gives it out freely without ever needing any back – there’s a lot we can learn from Him. Three, forgiving as God forgives. A difficult part of mercy is forgiving, and doing it as the world does won’t suffice. We’re called to forgive as God does – quickly and completely. Lastly, asking God to renew your mercies each morning. It seems impossible to be merciful daily, but if you come to God, He’ll refill you with fresh mercy.
Here’s how not to love mercy: Do things without involving mercy – If God included mercy in His plan to save us and give us new life in Jesus, then you should involve it in all that you do. Feel that being merciful is a burden – Being merciful is a blessing, in fact, God delights in showing mercy. Believe that you’re separated from God’s mercy – His mercy is right there following you, let God in on what you think His mercy can’t cover, and let Him prove you wrong.
God’s Guidance:
Micah 6:8 (NIV) – “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.”
Matthew 5:7 (ESV) – ““Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
Matthew 9:10-13 (ESV) – “And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””
Hosea 6:6 (NIV) – “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”
James 2:13 (ESV) – “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV) – “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”
Colossians 3:12-14 (NIRV) – “You are God’s chosen people. You are holy and dearly loved. So put on tender mercy and kindness as if they were your clothes. Don’t be proud. Be gentle and patient. Put up with one another. Forgive one another if you are holding something against someone. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave you. And over all these good things put on love. Love holds them all together perfectly as if they were one.”
Lamentations 3:23 (NLT) – “Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
Micah 7:18 (NIV) – “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.”
Psalm 23:6 (ESV) – “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Application:
1. Talk to and give over to God the things you feel ashamed about and guilty of, and invite His mercy to wash over you
2. Give someone a second chance by forgiving them and letting God refresh your relationship (This doesn’t include any toxic situations or people, those need to be prayed over and monitored by a godly mentor or counselor)
3. Create an atmosphere of mercy around you, encourage forgiveness and seeing things from someone else’s point of view, while also avoiding aggression and judging others
Strength Point:
Mercy is prioritized over outward actions, stronger than the judgement in our hearts, and a blessing to those who show it and to those who receive it.
Reflection Question:
Do you desire to see your mercy grow?
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for always being merciful to us. You are a God of 2nd and 3rd and 4th (and so on) chances. I’m sorry for when I take advantage of Your gracious mercy by continuing in my sin without struggling against it. I’m also sorry for not showing mercy to others, even to people I don’t feel deserve it. Lord, take my heart and soften it towards those around me, whether physically or virtually. Make me aware of who You want me to be merciful to and how. Help me to love mercy and hunger to have more in my heart and mind. Transform how I think, so that what I say and do comes from mercy. I want to stop thinking of revenge, evilness, and __ as cool and strong, but to see them for what they are and where they truly lead: destruction. Remind me to admire mercy and realize it reveals true strength and __. Thank You for forgiving us, understanding us, and caring for us. You are the definition of mercy. I love You and all that You are! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen.
A Prayer to Pray over Others:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for always being merciful to us. You are a God of 2nd and 3rd and 4th (and so on) chances. Help my friend to not take advantage of Your gracious mercy by continuing in their sin without struggling against it. I pray that they would show others mercy, even to those they don’t believe deserve it. Lord, take my friend’s heart and soften it towards those around them, whether physically or virtually. Make them aware of who You want them to be merciful to and how. Help them to love mercy and to hunger to have more in their heart and mind. Transform how my friend thinks, so that what they say and do comes from mercy. Create desire in them to stop thinking of revenge, evilness, and aggression as cool and strong, but to see these things for what they are and where they truly lead: destruction. Remind my friend to admire mercy and realize it reveals true strength. Thank You for forgiving us, understanding us, and caring for us. You are the definition of mercy. I love You and all that You are, Lord! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, amen.
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