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| Dear Heavenly Father, Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Help us to have mercy on others so we can obtain mercy. Help us to have the right motives. Help us to be at peace with all men. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. mercy: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mercy 1 compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: 2 the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy. 3 the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, especially to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty. 4 an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors. 5 something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: Mercy identifies with the needs and feelings of other people. Mercy benefits others, and not ourself in the moment. Mercy treats others even better than they deserve. When someone makes an error, mercy assists in recovering from that mistake. One of the best explanations of mercy I stumbled across is this; Mercy is putting ourselves at risk for the redemption of others who have erred under the power of sin, following the example of Christ. Mercy remains humble and puts the needs of others before self. Mercy sees distress. It responds with compassion. It attempts to relieve the observed distress, and it acts even when the one in distress is an enemy. Mercy is also emphasizing with other people. It is being able to identify with others as closely as possible. Mercy seeks to understand their experience. It takes a good, long, and hard look at the needs of other people. It considers their feelings and motives. Hebrews 4:14-16 ▼ Mercy is a core characteristic of a genuine Christian. Mercy actively helps others and doesn't just idly stand by when it observes a need. Mercy shows kindness when a severe penalty is expected. It sees the miserable condition of sin. Mercy is more than just a feeling. It is an action. It is having a tender heart full of compassion for those who are in pain and/or suffering and it seeks to help relieve the pain and/or suffering. Merciful people are willing to go out of their way to help others. Being merciful is a way of life, not just isolated or occasional acts of charity. Mercy is not getting the punishment we justly deserve for wrongs we have inflicted towards others or for sins against God. Mercy does not deny the right to be upset with sin. Mercy turns the anger towards the sin and away from the sinner. Mercy eases suffering, lifts burdens, and removes debt. Grace https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_in_Christianity Grace - to favor or honor; a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior Grace is getting the blessings and favor we don't deserve because we have sinned. Grace is a gift, favor, and kindness. It is unearned favor. It is receiving unearned pardon from our sins. We have mercy because of Grace. Ephesians 1:6-7 ▼ 1 Timothy 1:12-15 ▼ Grace, mercy, and peace all go together. 1 Timothy 1:2 ▼ Grace is God's love for those who are guilty of sin. Grace covers the sin, deals with the cause of the sin, gives us (mercy) what we don't deserve, and is unmerrited pardon and Salvation. We have the mercy of Salvation through the grace of God. Titus 2:11 ▼ Justice and Mercy Justice - 1. just behavior or treatment. 2. a judge or magistrate, in particular a judge of the Supreme Court of a country or state. Love and holiness are 2 of the main attributes of God. Mercy is an expression of God's love. Mercy is his love for those in distress, removes the pain, doesn't give us what we deserve, and is unmerritted forgiveness and healing. Mercy deals with the symptoms of sin. Justice and mercy needs to go together. Justice without mercy is cruel. Mercy without justice is a cheap imitation. Mercy is compassion in action for people in need. Mercy, in the context of Justice, is real and it is costly. Mercy triumphs over judgement. James 2:13 ▼ God is a God of both justice and mercy. They need to be mingled together. Sometimes one must choose an act upon the greater good for the greater number of people. Forbearance Forbearance - patient self-control; restraint and tolerance. God sets an example to be longsuffering and forbearing. God's mercy is perfect and infinite. Psalms 103:8-18 ▼ Compassion Compassion - sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. The Lord is full of Grace, mercy, and compassion. He is slow to angry, and not always angry as some people like to portray him. All of his works are covered in mercy. God is longsuffering and patient and kind. He is everything good. Psalms 145:8-9 ▼ Forgiveness https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgiveness Forgiveness - a decision to let go of resentment and thoughts of revenge. Forgiveness, gentleness, and kindness are also all forms of mercy. We ourselves have been forgiven a debt we could never repay. Jesus paid a debt for us on the cross that leaves no room for bitterness or unforgiveness in our hearts. What we have suffered is small I comparison to what Christ suffered on the cross. He not only paid for our debts but the sin debt of everyone in the entire world. We must forgive if we want to be forgiven. We must give mercy if we want to receive it. Matthew 6:14-15 ▼ In the Lord's prayer another statement is made similar to mercy is received when mercy is given. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 6:12 ▼ Self-Defense https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-defense Is it right for a Christian to defend themselves? With all this talk about mercy, does God permit me to use self-defense? Self-Defense requires God's wisdom, understanding, and some tact. Let me see if I can give you some insight and boundaries so we can know when and if it is right for us to defend ourselves. Self-Defense is illustrated in one of the greatest acts of love. John 15:13 ▼ There are Scriptures supporting both self-defense and passivity. I personally believe it depends upon the situation. If someone insults you or does a minor offense like a slap on the cheek, turn the other cheek. Don't retaliate. If someone is threatening to severely injure or mame you or threatening to take your life, by all means and any means necessary, defend yourself. I think the general rule of thumb should be Romans 12:18. As much as lies within you, pursue peace with all men. Violence should only be a last resort, and whatever we do should align with the will of God. Romans 12:18 ▼ Self-Defense is not to be used as any kind of retaliation. It is not to be a vengeful reaction to a slight or offense. Matthew 5:39-42 ▼ Turning the other cheek when being insulted or to a minor offense is different than when you are being fully physically assaulted or experiencing another act of violence against you. John 18:22-23 ▼ We must rely on the wisdom that comes from above to know when it is right to defend ourselves and to know in what way to do it. God looks on the heart and the motives that are in the heart while man looks at the outward appearance. James 3:17 ▼ Rather we choose to defend ourselves or we decide to extend grace and mercy, it comes from what is in our heart. 1 Peter 3:4 ▼ God Is Merciful It is God's character to show mercy to the merciful. Mercy is also a fruit that is produced and grown as a result from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Psalms 18:25-26 ▼ Mercy sets the person who does wrong free from fear of punishment. The person who is not free from fear has not been perfected in God's love. 1 John 4:18 ▼ Because God is merciful, we should also show mercy. Those who submit to God in Salvation will naturally respond with an attitude of mercy towards others. We will naturally offer relief to someone we see in a miserable condition. Ephesians 4:30-32 ▼ Mercy and kindness is what lead sinners to repentance, not criticism and condemnation. Romans 2:4 ▼ Sin is harmful. It leads to destruction and death. Mercy is lovingly pointing out sin, explaining why it is wrong, and it's serious consequences. Matthew 18:15 ▼ Galatians 6:1 ▼ James 5:20 ▼ Salvation is an act of God's mercy, not a reward for obedience or for your own righteousness. God will have mercy on whomever he chooses. Romans 9:14-18 ▼ God shows us mercy because he loves us. John 3:16 ▼ Salvation is an unmerited gift from God. Titus 3:4-7 ▼ 1 Peter tells us that being burned again is an act of mercy from God. The second birth is God's Salvation because of his mercy. 1 Peter 1:3-5 ▼ God provided Salvation as an option for us because he doesn't want anyone to perish. He desires everyone to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 ▼ In fact, God delights in mercy. Micah7:18 ▼ This is the character and nature of God. This Scripture shows the heart of God I think. Nehemiah 9:16-17 ▼ Even if God is angry enough to destroy you, if you repent from the heart and change your behavior and attitude, God may have mercy. He may change his mind and not destroy you after all. When this verse says he repenteth him of evil it means he will change his mind about the evil he had thought against you. God does not sin and doesn't need to repent for sin. Joel 2:12-13 ▼ The Word of God is a Sword
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: We must be careful how we handle the word of God and direct it toward others. Remember God's Word is like a two-edged sword. We can help others with it, but we can hurt others too. Be careful when you correct another or point fingers at other people's sins. Pay attention to the people who are around you. Suffering for Righteousness What does it mean to suffer for righteousness? I was always under the impression that it was the obvious, suffering because someone is persecuting you for your beliefs in Christ. It is being put to death or punished because you refuse to denounce the name of Christ. However, suffering for righteousness can include more than just persecution. Isn’t enduring temptation without yeilding also a form of suffering? What about choosing not to go to that restaurant with your friends because there will be a lot of drinking, skimpily dressed servers, and cursing? Has anyone been ridiculed because you chose not to watch a certain movie because of its content? What about some types of fasting? There are more than one way to suffer. When I Googled the word suffer, here is the definition I got - experience or be subjected to (something bad or unpleasant). I believe any form of suffering for righteousness will be blessed by God. We are always blessed when we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Our flesh suffers when we deny its lusts, but we grow spiritually and come out better for it. When you suffer for righteousness, you can rejoice because you will have a reward in Heaven. Matthew 6:33 ▼ I believe this includes when you forgive, show mercy, and do not retaliate when someone offends you or mistress you. You will have mercy and forgiveness when you extend it to others. We are told to present our bodies as a living sacrifice unto God. Are we willing to suffer the way Christ did? Are we truly willing to pick up his cross and follow him? Romans 12:1 ▼ Practicing Mercy We are to not only be merciful, we are to love mercy. Wow! That's something to think about. Micah 6:8 ▼ We are to provide mercy to others because we have been in need and received mercy too. Any act of disobedience provides God and us with an opportunity to show God's mercy to everyone. Mercy doesn't ignore disobedience or enable depression. Mercy creates a path to mend and re-establish broken relationships, especially our relationship with God. Romans 11:30 ▼ God prefers us to have mercy which is a weightier matter of God's law rather than ritualistic sacrifice and empty religious traditions. Matthew 9:13 ▼ Jesus told the man that had been possessed with the devils to go and tell others how he had compassion (mercy) on him. Jesus wants us to tell others what he has done for us. It will bring him and the Father glory. Mark 5:19-20 ▼ Mercy comes from mercy. We give mercy because we have received it. God blesses mercy. Mercy is also a blessing we receive from God. In order to be a merciful person, we must first realize our poor condition due to sin. Then we become broken before God and grieve over our sin and poor condition. God gives us mercy because we have truly repented and sought his forgiveness. Mercy comes from the heart. Our heart has felt spiritually bankrupt and grieved over sin. We brought it to our God and waited upon him. We hungered and thirsted for his righteousness. We received mercy from him, and now we must extend that same mercy to others because we too have been in a hopeless state and lost. God desires us to have mercy and knowledge of him more than religious traditions and rituals. Hosea 6:6 ▼ God desires to have a close, intimate relationship with us. He desires our real love and affection toward him. He doesn't just want us to go to church to perform traditions, ceremonies, rituals, and formalities meaninglessly. He wants our worship to be expressed from our hearts. Do you want someone to just say they love you and do only the minimum required, or do you want them to show you in deed that they love you and act passionately towards you? God feels the same way we do. God has feelings too. Remember we are made in his image. Bondage to religious trivialness and regulations are the opposite of mercy. It is more important to be eternally and internally clean and right with God than to be ceremoniously clean and an enemy of God. It is hard to truly have mercy when we are preoccupied with trivial matters and other worldly cares. The sacrifice spoken of in Matthew 9 and Hosea 6 is referring to empty religious formalism. Mercy, with judgement and faith are the weightier matters of God's law. There are many people even today who are caught up in formal religious activity with no eye to see distress in others, feel pity, to give relief, and especially not to an enemy. Matthew 23:23-24 ▼ Mercy keeps us from holding grudges, harboring bitterness, or hanging onto other harmful emotions. Having mercy towards others is good for our own soul. Those who do not show mercy and pursues evil does it to their own harm. Proverbs 11:17-19 ▼ Have you noticed a reoccurring theme in this study? Show mercy to receive mercy. Forgive to be forgiven. You reap what you sew. Galatians 6:7-10 ▼ God saves the humble and merciful because they realize their need and cry out to him. Isaiah 66:2 ▼ James 4:6-10 ▼ Mercy allows us to show our love for God and our fellow man. If we love God, we will love others because God is love. 1 John 4:6-8 and 20-21 ▼ By having mercy, we resemble our Father, the God of mercy. We also see again the principle of reaping and sewing. God is passionate and goes to extremes to bless us. Be careful if you are cursed by him for the same reason. Luke 6:35-38 ▼ Through your own desperate need for God's mercy, you are able to respond to others with compassion. You are able to respond with action to relieve the distress of others and you are able to respond with no strings attached. Remember how God has shown you mercy many times over, again and again. Reflect God's mercy to others. Where mercy, judgement, and justice seem to conflict, mercy always wins. Romans 81-6 ▼ Resources ▼  |
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