Be Merciful

 Be Merciful

Jesus said,

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” 

                                                              Luke 6:36.

Mercy according to the Oxford dictionary is “compassion or forgiveness shown towards and enemy or offender in one’s power.”

I’m writing to Christians here and the question I want to ask is; Are you merciful?

I am a retired professional clown and magician. I spent a large portion of my life entertaining children and adults alike at events ranging from a small house party, to large company picnics and even weddings. And I had a lot of fun.

On one particular occasion I mentioned to someone at the church I was attending at the time that I’d been hired to perform at a same sex wedding.

This person, who sat on the board of the church said I shouldn’t be doing it. Frankly while in hindsight it shouldn’t, have shocked me, it did.

He was without meeting these two people. Judging them to be sinners. Which shouldn’t have mattered anyway. After all Jesus sat with sinners. 

I didn’t know at the time whether this couple were saved or not. The way I seen it, it was not my job to judge them. The American evangelist Billy Graham said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                            Billy Graham.

As a believer in Christ Jesus I feel I, and indeed all who believe in Jesus must not judge anyone outside our faith. We must at all times show mercy and love to those around us.

No one will ever see Gods mercy if we as believers do not show it to them. 

The apostle Paul wrote,

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.  2 Corinthians 18-20.

If we are Christ’s ambassadors given the ministry of reconciliation. Then we have a duty to show mercy to all people by reaching out with the love of God in a non-judgemental way.

We must do this irrespective of a persons lifestyle, faith, or position in society.

So I repeat my question; do you show mercy to those around you?

Please think about it.

Be Merciful

Be Merciful
Jesus said,

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” 

                                                    Luke 6:36.

Someone once told me Mercy “is showing unconditional love.” the apostle Paul wrote about love this way,

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, 

it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil

 but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....” 

                     1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Jesus showed this kind of Love when he died for us. The apostle Paul stating,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, 

Christ died for us.” 

                                   Romans 5:8.

James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.  
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:8-13.
If you are claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus, a Christian do you show Love and Mercy to those around you?
Remember Jesus said,

“Blessed are the merciful, 

for they will be shown mercy.” 

                                    Matthew 5:7

Remember the words of James the half brother of Jesus who said,

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged

by the law that gives freedom, 

 because judgment without mercy 

will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.

 Mercy triumphs over judgment!”

                                            James 2:12,13.

Please think about it.