Why Should I Be Merciful?
Why should I be merciful? This is a question that you may not have asked yourself before. Maybe mercy is something that you are given often. For others, maybe we have forgotten the goodness of the mercy God has shown to us. Jesus said after all, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy" (Matt.5:7) To answer the question, we must first define mercy.
What is Mercy
Mercy which comes from the word eleeo ( ἐλεέω) and describes the act of showing compassion and pity on someone. God perfectly exemplifies mercy. Paul recognized the mercy that God showed him while he sinned in ignorance.
I thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to his service; though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief: howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an example of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life.
(1 Tim. 1:12-16)
God showed patient mercy toward Paul while he remained ignorant of the eternal plan of the church of Christ. Paul recognized that this mercy was bestowed upon him so that he might be able to show longsuffering and mercy toward others. We learn from this that we are great beneficiaries of a patient and merciful God who calls all who receive to give as they have been given.
How to Show Mercy
To show mercy we must understand that many people need mercy. The world is full of them. Jesus calls us to show mercy to all, even our enemies. The world has taught us that we hate our enemies, but God calls us to show mercy. We must be willing to give mercy and not be as the Pharisees were. Jesus rebuked them saying, "But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless” (Matt. 12:7). Remember one well-known Pharisee named Saul was an enemy of the cross who needed mercy. Like Paul, we know we need mercy.
To show mercy is to do good, to pity their ignorant state, and still show the appropriate respect for them. Consider the great evil that is carried out in some states at Planned Parenthood. We show mercy even to the abortionist. One way we do this is by not returning evil for the evil they have committed. Some groups who claimed to be Christian in the past have been guilty of bombing those locations. How can someone who loves the Merciful God seek to hurt and maim others?
We can show mercy by praying for those individuals to repent and turn from their sins. We can reach out to individuals and urge them to consider the value of life. This, I know, is an extreme case. How can we do this in a more practical sense? Sometimes, we assume that mercy is one-sided. In other words, only those who treat you with mercy should receive mercy. Consider what is written in the parable of the Good Samaritan. "Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:36-37). The priest, the Levite, had no mercy upon their ailing brother, yet a foreigner, a despised Samaritan was the one who showed mercy. Be like this good Samaritan, be like God; show mercy!
Mercy Hopes
Mercy is necessary and we must be merciful as God is merciful. Mercy and longsuffering are given freely to even alien sinners. We were once those very sinners and we needed mercy the most. The Spirit said, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). God’s merciful patience is extended to mankind with the hope that they will come to repentance. When someone sins against us we extend mercy so that we will not be tempted to sin in a retaliatory fashion.
God had every right to not show restraint, patience, and yes mercy toward us, but instead, He did what others would not. He gave His only begotten Son to die to present the gift of salvation to mankind. There has never been a more merciful service done toward man. It is extended to even those who hated Him. There is a paradox presented in Romans 11: 28-32,
“As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake. For the gifts and the calling of God are not repented of. For as ye in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience, even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy. For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.”
The Jews were opposed to Jesus, and by doing so through their disobedience, in a way they obtained mercy for all Gentiles and Jews alike who would repent. God had shut up all unto disobedience, meaning that both Jews and Gentiles were under sin. This does not mean that God created sin, but rather because of sin, God provided mercy to sinners. God sent His Son to save sinners. If God is willing to show mercy and longsuffering to alien sinners, what type of people ought we to be? Christ said, "Go and do likewise."
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
