Ephesians 2:4-5
But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved!
God’s mercy is an ongoing act of compassion. While He does ultimately judge righteousness, His mercy is rooted in His righteousness, and it is those who practice righteousness that can exhibit mercy. It takes God’s mercy upon us to give us direction and focus to remain clean and be obedient to Him. His mercy is not anything that we deserve. We are deemed righteous because of our obedience to Him.
Deuteronomy 13:17-18
Nothing set apart for destruction is to remain in your hand, so that the Lord will turn from His burning anger and grant you mercy, show you compassion, and multiply you as He swore to your fathers. This will occur if you obey the Lord your God, keeping all His commands I an giving you today, doing what is right in the sight of the Lord your God.
The people addressed here were living in an area where they were surrounded with sin and sinful practices; yet, God granted them mercy and showed them compassion. It would not be recognized by the people without their obedience and quest for righteousness.
Hosea 6:6
For I desire loyalty (mercy) and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Matthew 9:10-13
While He was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came as guests to eat with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when He heard this, He said, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Learning to be merciful is to see the needs that a person has in his or her life.
Hebrews 2:17-18
Therefore He (Jesus) had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested.
Jesus was our example in everything, even in the demonstration of mercy because He relates to our battles in the flesh. He was our merciful high priest in rendering His service for each of us.
Matthew 11:2-6
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent a message by his disciples and asked Him, “Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news. And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed.”
God’s mercy is also upon those who are disenfranchised–the blind, the handicapped, and all of those who have ailments or the less fortunate or the disadvantaged. The dead also refers to the spiritually dead, and God uses His word to revive them.
It is the mercy of God that sees the need of those who are at a disadvantage. The Holy Spirit helps us to examine ourselves and to see our need for Jesus Christ and to also see the world we live in through His eyes. If we see things His way, we will readily see the need for mercy and compassion.
We pray that the Lord gives us the desire to be meek and humble, and not fearful of those who are in sin and carrying out sinful and destructive behavior. We pray for the persuasion of righteousness and for its influence on others to turn to Jesus Christ. We pray for our ministry to others in that, because Jesus has shown us mercy, we can be merciful to others. Lord, minister to us, and we’ll give You the praise, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 