Out here we set store by neighbors. Count them a blessing… Anybody who was in need was a neighbor.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Quick and the Dead)
“Once you were less than nothing; now you are God’s own. Once you knew very little of God’s kindness; now your very lives have been changed by it.”
–1 Peter 2:10 (TLB)
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Oh, the wonderful mysterious work of God in mercy. The words of the song often associated with Jimmy Swaggart come to my mind.
“Mercy rewrote my life,
Mercy rewrote my life,
I could have fallen, my soul, cast down,
But mercy rewrote my life.”
–Mike Murdock
Think of the great mercy that God has shown you. Think that when you show mercy to someone that it is a source of satisfaction to God. When we show mercy by just giving a cup of cold water to some thirsty soul God smiles. Micah tells us that the Lord requires us to love mercy (6:8). Mercy, thank the Lord that “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV) New mercies–every morning! Just think of that!
As image-bearers of Christ, mercy should be a way of life for us. Our lives should reflect that of Jesus, therefore mercy is a norm. Where we go, blessings should go with us to others and in return we will be in favor with God. We will be known and remembered by God (Psalm 112:6), and as we show mercy to others we can rest assured that our children will receive mercy when needed (Psalm 37:26). Mercy indeed, in itself, is merciful then. With proper attitude are we to show mercy. In Deuteronomy we read, “You shall give to him freely and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake” (15:10, ESV) All! Think of that–works, career, negotiations, life, building, planting, journeying will be blessed by the Lord. Thomas Watson says that “The honeycomb of a blessing shall be still dripping.” Its sweetness never stops.
Interesting that mercy shows many benefits for the person today. As we bless others, we are blessed. Oh, it is not just a feel-good, mushy type of emotion, but something deep in the soul. Yes, and even greater for we will find our greater reward in heaven.
“I could have fallen, my soul, cast down,
But mercy rewrote my life.”
Now what? Since you have been shown mercy, what will you do with it? Look closely at the way William Barclay translates this verse in its fullness: “O the bliss of the man who gets right inside other people, until he can see with their eyes, think with their thoughts, feel with their feelings, for he who does that will find others do the same for him, and will know that that is what God in Jesus Christ has done!” Mercy! What a thought!