The Promise of Mercy

If you're like most people, you want to be treated kindly, mercifully. We say, "Gimme a break," or "Try a little tenderness," and we mean it!

Too often, we forget that it cuts both ways. Consider the following verses:

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." 

~Matthew 5:7

"A man who has friends must himself be friendly." 

~Proverbs 18:24 NKJV

The good news is that our heavenly Father shows mercy to us even when we don't deserve it. Didn't He send His beloved Son to die for the ungodly. Doesn't He forgive us each and every time we repent of our misdeeds.

Since He calls us to be imitators of Him, let's try being merciful even as He is merciful. Let's try being holy even as He is holy. It should come as no surprise that when we extend mercy to others, most will reciprocate. But then, even if they don't, our heavenly Father notices and will supply whatever is lacking in their response to us--if not now, then when He passes out rewards in Heaven.

"With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful."

~Psalm 18:25 NKJV

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 77:9

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”   

Psalm 77:9  

“Has God forgotten to be merciful?  Has he in anger withheld his compassion? Selah”

Meditation

This sounds familiar!

How like me to judge you, God, according to my own past performance.  Because I may have withheld loving compassion for reasons too numerous to mention, I suspect that of you.

But you are not like me.  Your ways are not my ways.  Far from basing your love on my performance, your love is unconditional, your faithfulness unfailing.

You cherish your creation, so much so that you sent your only Son to suffer and die in payment for our sins. You crucified your own flesh and blood and, in Jesus, you freely give us all things—no strings attached!

If you would do that, how could I ever question your constant goodwill and love toward me?  Help me to be still . . . and wait for your perfect plan to unfold.

SELAH

Look up: Psalm 18:25-26; Isaiah 55:8-9; Ephesians 2:8-9;

John 3:16; Romans 5:10-11; Psalm 46:10