Introduction:
We live in a world where it is easy to become cold-hearted, insensitive, and unsympathetic. With news available to us 24/7, we can see the tragedies almost as they take place most anywhere in the world. Constantly we hear of, and see the results of violent acts that have occurred. Scenes of dead bodies lying in the streets, police and paramedics hurrying about, friends and loved ones grieving uncontrollably have become all too familiar.
In order to cope with all of the pain and suffering that goes on around us, we have learned to control our emotions and we don’t allow ourselves to dwell too long on all that ails this world. In the process however, we have become almost indifferent and merciless.
How does Jesus want to respond?
Text: Matthew 5:7
In this fifth Beatitude, Jesus speaks out against the cruel and heartless attitude of today’s society. In contrast, Jesus is calling upon each of us to be merciful.
What exactly does that mean?
ILLUSTRATION: The parable of the Good Samaritan is a beautiful example of a merciful person. (LUKE 10: 25-36) Jesus told the story of how three individuals responded to someone who had been beaten, robbed and left for dead. The first person was a priest who completely ignored the injured man. (v. 31). The Levite came and looked at the injured man, before he passed by on the other side. At least he felt pity, but being a merciful person is more than just having pity for someone, or even having a compassionate feeling.
A merciful person is someone who acts with compassion. The Samaritan was the one who stopped, looked, and reached down to help. Jesus then asked the question Luke 10:36 (NLT)
"Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?"
The lawyer replied, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said, "Go and do likewise."
I. MERCY IS A CHARACTER OF GOD.
A. God is holy, righteous, and just. This is not to say that God will ever overlook our sin. When we consider God’s Mercy along with our sin, we should know that God in his infinite love and mercy and grace comes to us and cares for us in our misery caused by our sin.
EPHESIANS 2:4-5: "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved.)"
ILLUSTRATION: "The Unmerciful Servant" (Matt. 18:21-35). He was in debt and about to be punished.
He pleaded for mercy and got it. However someone owed him money, also. The Unmerciful Servant decided to demand for his payment. The person that owed him the money begged for forgiveness, but the Unmerciful Servant refused to show any mercy.
Application:
God wants those of us who have received mercy to show mercy to others. No matter what the cost…
Mercy is really our greatest need. Often people demand justice. They demand their rights. However, if we got exactly what we deserved, we would already be in hell. However, God loves us in spite of our sins and has provided for us the remedy and mercy for our sins. He has provided a way out of the misery caused by our sins. He sent his only Son to go to the cross for our sins, and made it possible for us to be revived from our spiritual death, and to find life in Jesus Christ.
III. Mercy is distinctly different from forgiveness.
A. God is merciful to us even when you don’t sin, just as you can be merciful to those who have never done anything against you.
B. God’s mercy doesn’t just forgive your failures and faults, but reaches deep into all your weakness and need.
IV. Mercy is distinctly different from grace.
A. Grace is what saves you - mercy is what sustains you.
B. Mercy eliminates the pain, grace cures the disease.
C. Mercy offers relief from punishment; grace offers pardon from the crime.
Example:
Mercy is a word you will hear used in the legal system. After the conviction has been made, the jury has unanimously declared the persons guilt, and the sentence is about to be handed down, MERCY is begged for.
V. Mercy began in the Old Testament
A. The Old Testament Hebrew word for mercy is “Checed” which means to get inside someone’s skin, to look at where they view life and feel what they are experiencing; to move in and act on behalf of the one whose hurting.
1. That is exactly what Jesus did when He chose to leave the comfort and glory of Heaven to become one of us.
2. Mercy has also been defined as compassionate treatment, having the disposition to be kind and forgiving.
B. Mercy is made “New Every Morning”
The mercy and “unfailing love of the LORD never ends! His “mercies begin afresh each day" (Lam 3:19-24 NLT) His mercy is brand spanking new every morning! Everyday you are given a second chance and a fresh start at life! Psalm 136:26 “Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.
Application:
As God gives you a fresh start each new day, so should you reach beyond the pain and give to those who have hurt you a fresh start through your forgiveness. Everyday, when you forgive, the anger, bitterness, resentment and pain that you feel from the wrong suffered from someone else’s hands is weakened.
It’s only through the giving of mercy that your emotional wounds will be healed. If you do not show mercy and forgive the unforgivable you may never find total healing for your spirit, mind and body
Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” He was teaching that mercy to men brings mercy from God - not mercy from men.
Our corrupt, ego-centered, and selfish society often asks only one question; “What’s in it for me?” Jesus wants us to ask “ Lord, what is in it for you? How can I meet their needs right where they are? What acts of compassion can I do?”
Mercy is meeting people’s needs wherever their needs are - in whatever the situation they find themselves. It’s not simply feeling compassion but showing compassion, not only sympathizing but offering a helping hand as well.
The true character of mercy is in giving – giving compassion, giving help, giving time, giving money, giving of yourself and giving forgiveness.
(2 Corinthians 3:17- 18 NLT)
We are to desire to “brightly reflect the glory of the Lord” and become “more and more like him and reflect his glory even more” you must “never give up” in showing His mercy.
2 Corinthians. 4:1 (NLT)
And so, since God in his mercy has given us this wonderful ministry, we never give up.
Question
How does someone develop a more merciful spirit?
Application:
Referring back to the story of the "Good Samaritan" (Luke 10:33-34), we see that there are three practical steps we can take toward being "merciful" as the Lord would have us to be.
A. See the need - "and when he saw him"
1. With today’s society, we tend to get wrapped up in our own little worlds. We all have our own plans, our own dreams, our own goals. Sometimes when we meet people, we may try to catagorize them in one of two ways. They are either beneficial to our plans, dreams, and goals, or they aren’t. Those that are, we are willing to spend time with, and those that aren’t we ignore because they are useless to our cause.
2. In order to cultivate a more merciful spirit we must learn to see people as individually important to God. Regardless of how we stereotype them, they were "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14) just as we were, and God has a plan and purpose for their lives just as He does for ours.
3. The Samaritan saw the man, most likely a Jew, as someone who needed help. For all intents and purposes the man was the Samaritan’s enemy, but that made no difference. At this particular point in time he was simply another human being in need of assistance.
Transition:
Learning to see others as God sees them is the first step in becoming more merciful.
B. Feel the need - "he had compassion on him"
1. As we’ve already seen, much of what we are exposed to every day makes it difficult for us to be moved with compassion. Romans 12:15 tells us that we should have the ability to "weep with them that weep".
2. Hebrews 13:3 (NLT)
Don’t forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies.
3. Obviously we can’t all experience everything that others experience, but instead of standing at a distance and passing judgment, we can make an honest effort in trying, mentally at least, to put ourselves in their shoes for a while.
C. Respond to the need - "And went to him...and took care of him"
1. Seeing as God sees, feeling as God feels, and then responding by doing something is what being merciful is all about.
2. The bottom line is learning to love like Christ loved. Loving this way is not without its risks however.
Quote: C.S. Lewis
"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one. Not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.
3. While the danger is great in loving, it is even greater in not loving. The danger in not loving is the inability to show mercy which will result in a life not pleasing to God.
