32 “Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33 ‘Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’
34 “And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”—Matthew 18:32-35
Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.—Lamentations 3:22-23
Our God shows us mercy...He IS a merciful God and He commands us to go and do likewise. The Bible tells us that His mercy is boundless, eternal, prolongs life, encourages penitence, forgives sin, and makes salvation possible. On the cross mercy and truth met together...righteousness and peace kissed. What is mercy? Mercy is a form of love especially directed toward the needy and unworthy. When we as human beings show mercy we exhibit a divine quality. So much good comes to us as we obey God’s precepts. The opposite is also true.
The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.—Proverbs 11:17
The Holy Spirit speaking through James, Jesus’ brother, tells us that judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy, James tells us, triumphs over judgment.
Praying today for His merciful kindness to be displayed in each of our lives. That our gentleness be made known to all men because the Lord is near. Convict us, Father! May Your gracious Spirit who lives in us, enable us to forgive others from our heart. That we would bear with one another, and forgive one another, even as Christ has forgiven us...so we also must do. Help us to live our lives with the awareness that Jesus is our constant witness...that every moment we are in the very real Presence of Christ.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.—Matthew 5:7
Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.—Luke 6:36
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.—James 2:13
So you, by the help of your God, return;
Observe mercy and justice,
And wait on your God continually.—Hosea 12:6
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?—Micah 6:
