MERCY, MERCY

It’s been said, “To not forgive is like drinking rat poison and waiting for the rat to die!" If there is one thing we all could use more of these days, it’s forgiveness and mercy.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

In Jesus’ time, Roman culture did not value the virtue of mercy. A Roman philosopher said that mercy was the disease of the soul.

The Romans glorified justice, courage, discipline, and power. Mercy was laughed at, mocked, and derided in that culture.

Our culture does not really value mercy either. More often, we cry out for justice and, better yet, revenge.

But God values mercy.

In Matthew 6:3, the word for mercy is used in the context of almsgiving. It means to help a person in need, to rescue the miserable.

The more righteous a man is, the more merciful he will be. The more sinful a man is, the harsher and more critical he will be.

If I know anything of God’s forgiveness in my life, I will be forgiving. If I am not merciful, then one must question if I know anything of the mercy of God myself.

THIS SUNDAY AT GATETREE

I'm preaching through the 10 Commandments for the message series "10 Values That Build Strong Families." If you're in the neighborhood on Sunday at 10:45 AM, we would be delighted for your to be our guest. I hope to see you then.