Friday Faith Check-up: Be Merciful, as God is Merciful

"God's mercy is so great that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, or make space too narrow, than diminish the great mercy of God."  - Charles Spurgeon

As Christians, we hear a lot about mercy and being merciful, especially toward others. This week, I'd look at what this means, especially to believers. The dictionary definition of merciful is: compassionate; tender; unwilling to give pain; not cruel. I think it's safe to say that God definitely has this quality.

Most of us have observed this characteristic, at one time or another, and have even displayed it within our own actions or deeds toward others. Perhaps, it wouldn't hurt to scratch the surface here for a moment and ask the question: "What does it mean to be merciful?"

First off, mercy is a godlike quality. There are numerous passages in the Bible that truthfully tell us so, such as; Psalm 103:8; Titus 3:5; 1 Timothy 1:2; Ephesians 4:2-6; 1 Peter 1:3. It is also a Christlike quality (Jude 21; Hebrews 2:17). And, mercy is love in action, that is, to see others through the lens of compassion and pity.

Try to imagine a world in which mercy was nonexistent. It isn't a very pleasant thought, is it? Thankfully, God has demonstrated mercy to us by way of our relationship with Him. It motivates our desire to give as He gave when His only begotten Son was offered as a sacrifice for our iniquities (John 3:16).

We please God by being merciful and loving in our own lives. It regenerates or refreshes our spiritual batteries through the power of the Spirit of God. Only then can we truly understand how Moses felt when, upon reaching the top of Mount Sinai, God made Himself known to him in the glory of His grace and goodness (Exodus 34:6).

Scripture: Psalm 86:5; Deuteronomy 4:31; Lamentations 3:22-23; James 2:13; Malachi 3:17

Prayer: Dear God, by Your merciful actions in my own life, You have shown me how much You really love me. Let me also extend this mercy to others whom I may encounter. Amen

Have a blessed and safe weekend!

Kaye