What is mercy? The English dictionary states it this way, “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.” This is what God extends to those who have sought him with repentance. He also shows it to those who are not his by extending their opportunity to come to him. It truly is a gift from God. However, this gift was not given to be held tightly as if someone was going to take it. He intended for us to share the gift. Sometimes we act like a child at Christmas. Little Johnny opens a package and loves the new toy inside. He picks it up, holds it close, and examines every aspect of the toy. After a few minutes, he sets the toy aside because he wants another present. Just as he begins to open package number two someone reaches to pick up the discarded toy. He jumps up, runs to retrieve the toy, pulls it close to him, and proceeds to open present number two. He doesn’t want to play with it, but it is his, and he refuses to relinquish it, to share it with others.
Many times, we handle mercy this way. God has shown all of us unfathomable compassion and forgiveness. We have received it but failed to share it. This was never God’s intention. In Luke chapter 10, we have the story of the good Samaritan. A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when thieves overtook him. They wounded him and left him half dead. A priest and a Levite walked by, saw him, and moved to the other side of the street to avoid him. Levites were men set aside as God’s “portion,” dedicated to ritual service and sacral duties throughout Israel’s tribal holdings, especially at the Tabernacle. The Priest would have been a Levite man performing the duties of a priest in the Tabernacle. Both of these men understood the meaning of mercy and knew to extend it, but failed to do so by choice. Then, along comes a Samaritan. Samaritans were a group of people the Jews would have no fellowship with because they felt they were better than the Samaritans. The Samaritan saw him and had compassion or mercy on him.
Luke 10:34-35 “And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.”
This man extended mercy and that is what God expects us to do. When Jesus asked who of the three was a neighbor to him, the reply was the one who showed mercy. To this Jesus replied, “Go and do thou likewise.”
Luke 10:37 “And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”
Not only are we to extend mercy, but there is a blessing to those who show mercy.
Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
You may feel that you’ve got it all together, you can take care of yourself, and therefore you don’t need the mercy of others. If this is your attitude you have some real issues in this area. First, it is an exhibition of pride. The sin that God hates. Second, you also don’t know what tomorrow brings. All of us are one breath away from death or disaster, but God’s mercy allows Him to have compassion for us, instead of punishing us. Third, he commands us to show mercy.
We all need the mercy of God for forgiveness. It is a gift, a present God is extending to us each day. It is given to us out of compassion and love. It is given to us to pass on to others. By extending mercy to others the world sees Jesus through us. Do you want mercy? Any answer other than yes would be a mere act of stupidity. It would be like asking for the sheer destruction of your life.
How can we show mercy? We can extend forgiveness, where it is not deserved. After all, isn’t that what the baby in the manger was all about? Coming to this earth to live and die for us. Showing compassion for our lost souls?
When was the last time you showed real compassion to another person? Doing something for someone who could offer you nothing in return. Jesus said in Matthew 10:42 that if we offered a cup of cold water to someone in His name we have shown this kind of compassion.
The greatest mercy ever shown was when the creator of the universe stooped to become a baby in a manger so he could become a man and die for us. Look around this Christmas and make it a point to show real, genuine mercy to others. I challenge you to see how many times you can do this before Christmas. Get out of your comfort zone and get real with your Christianity!
