Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7
The verse forces me to take an honest look at myself. Am I deserving of God’s mercy? Have I been merciful to the person that has mistreated, offended, upset or hurt me? Are there areas in my life where I am in great need of God’s mercy? To the extent that I show mercy, God will show me mercy. These are chilling words.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:43-45a
Jesus commands that we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Jesus demonstrated this on the cross when he asked the Father to forgive the very people who were crucifying Him (see Lk 23:34). Stephen prayed that God would forgive those who were stoning him to death (see Acts 7:59-60).
Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. Psalm 31:9
Is there someone you are unwilling to show mercy toward? Do you retain your hurt because you feel you have been wronged? Are you asserting your right to be angry and vengeful toward them? Is what they have done to you so wicked that you cannot be merciful? How merciful do you want God to be toward you? Is what that person has done to you greater than what you have done against God? Jesus told a parable that illustrates the need to be merciful:
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Matthew 18:23-35
God has shown us His infinite mercy in sending His Son as expiation for our sins, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). God loves us in spite of failing to live a life worthy of being His sons and daughters. He calls us to be merciful to others just as He has shown mercy to us.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36
You are feeling rejected and betrayed. The one that promised to love you “until death separates” wants out of your marriage. Feelings of anger and bitterness cloud your mind. There is much angst as you to try to deal with a marriage crumbling around you. In the midst of your pain and sorrow, God is calling you to be merciful to the one that has hurt you so deeply. God’s mercy is a healing balm.
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. Micah 6:8
Cry out to God and ask Him to take away all the ill feelings you have towards your wife. Ask Him to give you a loving heart for the one that is unlovable. Ask Him to use you as a channel of His love for your wife. Jesus understands your pain. He loved and healed yet was rejected and nailed to a cross. He knows your suffering. Let Him heal your wounds and give you joy in the midst of your pain.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16
I pray that God will give you the grace to endure hardship and suffering. May He bless you with the mercy of His love. May He use you an instrument of His compassion to the one in most need of His mercy. May God bring about the healing of your marriage that you so deeply desire.
Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. Jude 1:2
God bless you, my Brother. You are in my prayers.
God bless,
Dennis Wingfield
