Extending and Receiving Mercy

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 (NIV)

Christ-centered living involves being merciful. Has the Lord been merciful to you? Capture a snapshot of what shape you would be in right now had you not been a personal recipient of God’s mercy. God is not asking you to do anything He has not already done for you.

• “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved.” Eph. 2:4-5 (NIV)
• “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Heb. 4:16 (NIV)

You need God’s mercy for salvation and in sanctification. You need God’s mercy day-by-day in order to live the Christ-centered life. His mercy is both inward and outward. You receive God’s mercy inwardly and express God’s mercy outwardly.

Sing with me, “Mercy there was great and grace was free; pardon there was multiplied to me; there my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.” God, in His mercy, did not give you what you deserved. God placed on Jesus the iniquity of us all (Is. 53:6). Shouldn’t that transform how you view others? Shouldn’t your treatment of others flow out of the mercy you have received from God?

The most merciful act you will ever employ is sharing the Good News of Jesus with others. As you inquire about the spiritual status of another person you will have the opportunity to share your spiritual story and present the plan of salvation. Sharing your faith is a tangible demonstration of extending mercy to others in response to the mercy you have received from God.

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell