Mercy is one of God’s amazing, supernatural characteristics. In Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary, mercy is defined as “that benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves.”
Mercy is not fair, but it’s godly. Not fair, but powerful. Not fair, but Christlike.
And when we do what God leads us to do, He always brings justice into our life. To be merciful like God, we need to learn to trust Him more fully. Every single one of us has opportunities to do that each day … with friends and family, coworkers and people around you wherever you go throughout your day.
Whenever people hurt or disappoint us, our human nature leads us to dislike them because of their shortcomings. But God’s desire for us is to love all people, including our enemies (see Matt. 5:43-48).
If they can see love in your heart, instead of anger and judgment, that shows them kindness or benevolence that overlooks injuries and treats people who mistreat you better than they deserve. More importantly, it gives them hard evidence that Christ is working in you! And one of the greatest privileges we have in life is to follow His example by giving mercy to others as they need it.
Mercy Doesn’t Keep Count
When someone hurts or offends us, it’s easy to make a list and keep count of everything they’ve ever done wrong. But God is asking us to be like Him.
Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning. In Isaiah 43:25 He says, “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”
When my husband, Dave, and I were newly married, I was pretty good at keeping score. Every time we had an argument, I would bring up every single thing he had done that offended me since the day I met him.
I’ll never forget one day, after I recited my list, when Dave looked at me and said, “Where in the world do you keep all that stuff?”
I’ve learned the best thing we can do for ourselves is to let go of the hurt, to lose count of how others have wronged us and leave the past in the past.
The Why Behind the What
I always say that mercy understands the “why” behind the “what.” It cares about the person, not just what they’ve done to us.
Let’s say you walk into a grocery store and the checkout clerk is grouchy with you and has a sour look. You have a choice.
You can say, “I don’t appreciate your attitude. I am a customer here and I don’t like the way you’re acting. I’m going to tell your manager.”
Or you can be merciful and say, “You look like you’re having a hard day. I just want to say that God loves you and really cares about you.” You can believe the best about that person and realize they are upset for a reason.
When someone hurts us, our first inclination is to think, You’re not going to treat me that way. And if you think you’re going to get by with it, you have another thing coming!
However, it helps to remember that everyone who acts badly is hurting in some way.
When I first met Dave, I had a lot of problems from the sexual and emotional abuse I endured growing up. I was wounded and hurting, and it seemed like every other day I was starting an argument or saying something I regretted.
Because Dave already had a strong relationship with the Lord, he continuously showed me mercy and loved me in spite of my behavior. No matter how badly I acted the night before, he wasn’t mad the next morning. He didn’t let my behavior change his character.
You Reap What You Sow
Luke 6:36-37 says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
We reap what we sow, and whatever we give to others is what we’ll receive in return. If you want mercy, then sow mercy. If you need a friend, then sow friendliness. If you have financial needs, then look for ways to meet someone else’s needs.
It’s easy to judge. I cringe when I look back at the extremely critical and judgmental person I used to be. In fact, before I was a serious Christian, judging others was one of my favorite things to do.
I would sit at the mall and watch people walk by, sizing them up and thinking negative things about their clothes, hair or the people around them.
But the Bible says, “Do not judge” (Luke 6:37). I wasn’t only sowing bad seed; I was making myself miserable by not walking in love and believing the best of others.
The truth is, when we sow mercy, we reap a harvest of peace, joy and healthy relationships. We also take a giant step forward spiritually. Choosing to do what’s right—even when it hurts—causes us to grow and mature in an amazing way.
So, who can you extend new mercies to today? {eoa}
For more on this topic, order Joyce’s four-teaching CD series Nine Attitudes That Keep You Happy. You can also contact us to receive our free magazine, Enjoying Everyday Life, by calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting joycemeyer.org.
Joyce Meyer is a New York Times’ bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries Inc. She has authored more than 100 books, including Battlefield of the Mind and Your Battles Belong to the Lord (FaithWords). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information, visit joycemeyer.org.
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