Unkind: “Why doesn’t she work on her appearance?  Her hair is a mess and that outfit doesn’t do a thing for her.”
Merciful:  “Yes, her appearance could use some improvement, but she has a good heart and she has other priorities besides her looks.”

Unforgiving:  “He wasn’t there when I needed him, he was repeatedly unfaithful to my mother, and didn’t provide much financially.  I hope he gets what he deserves.”
Merciful:  “He fell far short as a father, husband, and provider, but I pity him. He missed so much.  His life could have been so much better.”

Judgmental:  “Just look at those tattoos and piercings.  I think getting those is a sin and by the looks of him, he’s a major sinner.  I think I’ll avoid him.”
Merciful:  “He’s certainly tatted up and has a lot of metal.  I wonder what’s on the inside?  Maybe he could use a smile and a kind word from me.”

Mercy is a beautiful thing. Remember the relief when your spouse picked up the slack when you just couldn’t do what needed to be done?  That’s mercy.  Remember when you forgot a friend’s birthday, and she overlooked it, but remembered your birthday?  That’s mercy.  Remember when you begged God to spare a family member and they got better?  That’s mercy.  Remember when a family member died and God carried you through your grief and showed up in every lonely moment?  That’s mercy.  Remember when you really lost it and spewed anger on a loved one?  But they said those sweet words, ‘I forgive you and I love you.’?  That’s mercy.  All of us desire mercy because we fall short all the time.  Happy are those who know that mercy comes from a kind, forgiving God.  Happy are those who give mercy to others.

“. . . you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them.”  Nehemiah 9:17

“The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”  James 5:11

The highest example of mercy is Jesus as he suffered the most painful of executions at the hands of jealous religious leaders and cowardly government leaders.  The two groups tasked with the well-being of the people had failed miserably.  Yet, despite their failures, he uttered these words through his pain, “Father, forgive them because they don’t know what they’re doing.”  It could be argued that they did know that what they were doing was wrong.  But Jesus gave them a gracious benefit of the doubt.  It would have been hard, I suppose, for important men to take seriously an uneducated peasant who claimed to be God.

God’s mercy is on those who admit wrongdoing.
“Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.  But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?
When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”  Matthew 9:10-13

God’s mercy is on those who trust Jesus.
“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ . . .”  Ephesians 2:4-6

God’s mercy is on those who revere him.
“He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.”  Luke 1:50

God’s mercy is on those who pray.
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”  Hebrews 4:16

God’s mercy is on those who show mercy to others.
“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”  Matthew 5:7
“Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’”  Matthew 18:33
“There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.”  James 2:13

So how do we show mercy to others?

We show mercy by forgiving as Jesus did.  And by forgiving as God forgives us: graciously when we don’t deserve it and without throwing up our past failures.

We show mercy by giving others the benefit of the doubt.  We often make excuses for ourselves, let’s be in the habit of making excuses for others since we don’t know their past, their present circumstances, or their intentions.

We show mercy by giving a second chance just like God does.
“… I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.  Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.  But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.”  1 Timothy 1:13-14,16

We show mercy by being kind, gentle, and patient.
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”  Colossians 3:12

We show mercy by praying even for those who treat us badly.
But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that?  If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.”  Matthew 5:44-47

We show mercy by having compassion on their situation, their pain, and their need for help.“… and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.  Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. . . “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”  Luke 10:33-37

We show mercy by not holding others to strict rules, but by considering their needs.
“But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’”  Jesus quoting Hosea 6:6 in Matthew 12:7  
Jesus’ disciples were hungry and so they snapped off some ripe grain heads and ate them as they walked by the field.  The problem wasn’t that they weren’t allowed to take the grain.  The supposed problem was that they were breaking the Sabbath rules that forbid harvesting on the Sabbath.  Those accusing them were rebuked by Jesus for their lack of mercy on hungry people.  Having compassion is better than following rules.

Let’s ask God to help us be merciful in our thoughts and actions this week.  Others need mercy and so do we!  We’ll all be happier.