Mercy

 “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?” (Mic. 6:18). 

Mercy is a foundational principal in the Kingdom of God.  “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matt. 5:7).  To “love” mercy is more than just appreciating it.  It means we treasure it; we seek to understand it; and we seek to walk in it.  “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.” (Prov. 3:3,4).  The word “mercy” is used to express kindness as well as forgiveness.  The author of Hebrews described mercy as part of God’s grace (Heb. 4:16).  Grace is His mercy (forgiveness) and help which we do not deserve.  It is God’s unmerited favor.  To love mercy is to offer forgiveness and kindness to others even when they do not deserve it.  

Why is mercy so important?  “Judgment is without mercy to the one who shows no mercy.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (Jas. 2:13).  God takes no pleasure in executing judgment, so He is patient and continues to work to call all men to repentance (2Pe. 3:9).  Judgment on evil will come, however, because it is necessary for the good of the righteous.  In His parable on forgiveness, Jesus compared the Father to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants (Matt. 18:21-35).  He had mercy on a servant but was angry when that same servant failed to have mercy on his fellow servant.  In response, the king delivered this servant to the torturers (jailer) as punishment for his debt.  “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (vs.35).  Forgiving others is not an option, and neither is it easy.  That is why Peter asked how many times we should forgive the same person (vs. 21).  We can do it with the help of the Lord, as we choose to forgive by faith.  “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17).

It is important to see in this parable that the punishment came because of debt.  When the servant failed to obtain mercy, he was delivered to punishment for his outstanding debt.  Unless we understand our guilt for sin, we will not value mercy.  The servant who failed to offer mercy to others did not appreciate mercy.  He did not understand undeserved kindness; instead, he thought he earned the forgiveness of debt by persuasive speech.  When we value the mercy of God, we respond with thankfulness and love.  “But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” (Lu. 7:47). 

Even beyond our need to be forgiven, we should consider the other person’s need.  God is love and He wants His children to be like Him; to have His nature (2Pe. 1:4).  “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Lu. 6:36).  Understanding our need for mercy, and being thankful for the mercy received, we must respond with love to others.  We must realize that unless our brothers or sisters obtain mercy, they likewise will suffer punishment for their sins.  It is imperative that we help them receive the same grace.  This is the reason why Jesus said, “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way.  First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matt. 5:23,24).  The Lord wants our offering, but what is more important to Him is that we love others.  If we have sinned against someone, we can be forgiven by the Lord through repentance, but what about the person we offended?  If they are holding unforgiveness, they will not be able to obtain forgiveness for their own sins and as a result will suffer punishment.  The devil will continually accuse them before the throne of God (Rev. 12:10) until God releases them for punishment.  Jesus wants us to help them obtain mercy.

Before we go to them we need to have already done something.  Without this, we are not even in a right relationship with God, much less able to offer Him a gift. “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25).  If our brother has something against us, it is very likely that we have something against them because there are two sides to any conflict.  Mercy is underserved so the other person does not have to say they are sorry before they are offered kindness and forgiveness.  Offering forgiveness unconditionally is not natural, but it is powerful when done by faith.  “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 18:18).  On many occasions, I have found that when I forgive from the heart, verbalizing it in the spirit, the person is released to repent and obtain forgiveness.  It is not that the person cannot repent without my forgiveness, but my act of faith helps them obtain grace. 

By now you must be wondering, “Why is it so difficult to offer God a gift?”  The reason is quite simple, the sacrifice acceptable to God is a surrendered life (Rom. 12:1).  When you are ready to go to your brother, you must go in humility.  “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart—these O God, You will not despise.” (Ps. 51:17).  Our own wounds blind us to our sins but when we have forgiven, we are more sensitive to the convictions of the Spirit.  “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.” (Matt. 5:25).  Having surrendered your life to God, you must give up defending yourself.

When we seek to “love” mercy, we make it our aim to walk in it.  It requires humility and faith.  “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom. 12:18,21).