Contagious Characteristics: BeatitudesSample

When I hear the word mercy, I think of the game where two players join hands and either twist the opponent's hand or bend their fingers back until they surrender and yell, "MERCY!" I also think about a criminal standing before a judge begging for his freedom. In both scenarios, the opponent and criminal are at the mercy of another person; they could either be in pain or bondage or set free. Mercy comes from someone in charge or who influences your life. In this case, it could come from the opponent gripping your hand or the judge if he chooses to let the criminal go free. However, in our case, mercy comes from God. It is Him not giving us the punishment we deserve. In the Old Testament, we learn that we are not consumed because of the Lord's great mercy towards us (Lamentation 3:22). We were, are, and always will need God's mercy.

Let's dive a little deeper as to why we needed God's mercy and how He showed it:

1. God saw our need. In scripture, we learn that we were sinners needing a Savior. In the beginning, God saw our needs, brokenness, and sin.

2. God was moved by our need. God was moved by our need when He sent His son down to earth (John 3:16). Jesus did not only see us suffering from heaven, but He placed Himself in our shoes and came down to earth (Philippians 2:7).

3. God moved to our need. Jesus not only felt compassion for us, but He also did something about it. He didn't just come down to earth to live amongst us sinful humans, but He also DIED for us, resurrected in three days, and left us the Holy Spirit to be with us and to guide us into all truth. It's one thing to feel sorry for a person's situation, and it's one thing to pray for them, but it's another thing to do something about it.

Let us learn from Jesus so that we can show mercy to our neighbors. Because when we extend mercy to others, God shows mercy to us.

Reflection Questions:

1. Read Matthew 6:14-15. What is the promise for those who forgive others and for those who refuse to forgive others?
2. What have you learned from this study, and how will you put it into practice today?