Carol McClain

Disturbing Thoughts About Mercy

Matt. 5:7: Delight in graciously helping others knowing God will graciously help you.

Carson, co-founder of Gospel Coalition, writes: “Mercy is a loving response prompted by the misery and helplessness of the one on which love is to be showered.”

Mercy flows directly out of the previous four Beatitudes (we know ourselves to be poor and needy, hungering for righteousness.)

Mercy is one of the richest words in Hebrew tradition. One of the key qualities of God, lovingkindness, generosity to the weak and helpless, continued love for people even when they’re unfaithful.

How much mercy you show is the result of how much mercy you received. Mercy comes from mercy.

Luke 7:47:  About the woman who washed Jesus’s feet, He said, ⁴⁷ Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

One critical aspect of mercy is forgiveness. How can I hold a grudge against someone when I’ve done just as much evil?

We will never forgive another as much as God in Christ forgave us.

Eph. 4: 32: ³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

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  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

  The Pharisees were constantly chastised for lack of mercy. One example: Matt 9: 10-13: ^{” 10}And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. ¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹² But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Think of Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

How do you measure up to Micah 6:8

Questions:

1. To whom do you have trouble showing mercy? How could you adjust your perspective so showing mercy to that person becomes easier?
2. In our current turmoil over immigration, how can we satisfy both philosophies–illegal (aka undocumented) immigrants have broken the law. However, how many came from desperate situations and need refuge? How do we help? How do we maintain law and order?
3. Luke 6:31 “³¹ Do to others as you would have them do to you.” I am a descendant of legal immigrants. A born in the US citizen. However, I often wonder what I would have done if they tried to send me, their descendant to Belarus.