Be Merciful

Date: June 27, 2023

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional. 

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share

You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?

B - Bible Verse: "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36)

L - Listen for God's Word and pray: Lord, help me to grasp the depth of Your mercy and to reflect it in my own life. Open my heart to receive Your instruction and guidance as I explore this verse.

E - Explore the History and Meaning: The Gospel of Luke was written by Luke, a physician and companion of the apostle Paul. In this passage, Jesus is teaching His disciples and a large crowd about love, compassion, and mercy. He emphasizes the importance of imitating God's mercy. Jesus calls us to be merciful, just as our heavenly Father is merciful. Mercy is more than just feeling sorry for someone; it's actively showing compassion and kindness to others, especially those who don't deserve it. As recipients of God's abundant mercy, we're called to extend that same mercy to others, reflecting His character and love.

S - Study the Key Words or Phrases: 

"Be merciful": This means to show compassion, kindness, and forgiveness to others.

"Just as your Father is merciful": We're called to imitate the mercy of our heavenly Father, who shows boundless compassion and forgiveness.

S - Summarize and Share: 

Jesus said, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful". It's like He's encouraging us to follow in God's footsteps and show mercy to others just as He shows it to us.

You know, mercy isn't just feeling sorry for someone or saying the right words; it's about actively demonstrating compassion and kindness. It means offering forgiveness, extending a helping hand, and showing love even when it's not deserved. And guess what? Our heavenly Father is the ultimate example of mercy. He pours out His boundless mercy on us day after day.

I want you to take a minute to reflect on how much mercy God has shown you in your life. He's forgiven your mistakes, offered grace when you've fallen short, and shown you love when you least expected it. His mercy knows no bounds! And in response to that incredible mercy, He calls us to extend the same to others.

Think about the people you encounter—the ones who may need a little mercy. It could be someone who hurt you, made a mistake, or is going through a tough time. Imagine what it would look like to treat them with the same mercy and kindness that God has shown you. Maybe it means forgiving someone who has wronged you or offering a helping hand to someone in need. It could be as simple as showing patience and understanding when others fall short.

When we choose to be merciful, we become conduits of God's love in this broken world. We have the power to make a difference, to impact someone's day, and to reflect God's amazing grace. So, my friend, let's embrace the call to be merciful and look for opportunities to extend kindness, forgiveness, and compassion.

As we go about our day, let's hold onto these verses that remind us of God's mercy:

Micah 6:8 "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Colossians 3:12 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."

James 2:13 "Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment."