Luke 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Let’s begin today by first ensuring everyone understands what we mean when we speak of mercy. Mercy is an attribute of God and is an important one to understand because we hear it used often, including in verses like today’s where we are told to be merciful ourselves. Mercy refers to God’s compassion towards people. It is often used to refer to people deserving of punishment. Instead of punishment, He is merciful and forgiving. We are all sinners and deserve punishment, but in His mercy that punishment is withheld.
Mercy extends beyond forgiveness, though. It also includes acts of kindness and care, healing and comfort. It also includes the easing or complete removal of suffering. But we most often hear it used in reference to forgiveness. It is kindness, empathy, and compassion towards others. We see His primary example of mercy in our salvation through Christ’s death on the cross.
As imitators of God and recipients of His mercy, we, too, are called to be merciful. We are to love our enemies, which is challenging for us. But we are to set aside ourselves and show the same mercy that has been shown to us with others. And more than just being merciful toward them, we are called to love them. Love should cover all of our actions.
In this context we see mercy as compassion and sympathy for everyone m regardless of their actions towards us. We are expected to offer our forgiveness for any wrongs done to us. We demonstrate empathy for them and extend forgiveness regardless of whether or not it is deserved.
Who in your life can you extend mercy to today? Mirror God’s love and mercy for others by choosing to show love instead.
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