Premeditated mercy

Luke 6:28

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

First we must understand mercy is before we can show it

mercy is

To be compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity:

Jesus says in Matthew 5:7,

“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy”

In other words, what you give, you’re going to get. You’ve got to learn to be a minister of mercy if you want God’s blessing on your life.

But why does God expect you to show mercy to others? Why should you be merciful?

Because God has shown you mercy.

Ephesians 2:4-5 says,

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

“God’s mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God’s grace that you have been saved” God wants you to pass on the mercy that you’ve received from him.

Because God commands you to be merciful.

Do you want a summary of what life without mercy is all about?

Here it is:

My friends let’s look at what life has done to those like you and me

The man with the broken heart, you'll see that he is sad, he hurts so

See the one who has lost the only love they ever had

There's got to be no sadder show to see No doubt about it,

Can't afford to pass it by Guaranteed to make you cry

“The LORD shows us how life can be good. This is what the LORD requires from you: to do what is right, to love with mercy, and to live humbly with your God”

Micah 6:8

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

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Because you’re going to need more mercy in the future. You’re going to make a lot of mistakes between now and when you get to Heaven, and you’re going to need God’s mercy when you do.

But you cannot receive what you are unwilling to give.

James 2:13 says,

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

“You must show mercy to others, or God will not show mercy to you when he judges you. But the person who shows mercy can stand without fear at the judgment”

Because showing mercy brings or causes happiness.

 Matthew 5:7 says

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

 God blesses those who are merciful. The word “blessed” also means “happy,” so the more you learn and demonstrate this quality, the more blessed and happier you’re going to be.

James 3:17

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Mercy is like a diamond; it is multi-faceted. Let’s look at seven facets of mercy, because I guarantee if you’ll learn how to be an agent of mercy, it will transform your relationships.

Mercy means being patient with people’s quirks. How do you get more patience for your kids, spouse, or friends?

The Bible says in

 “The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy”

The wiser you become, the more patient and merciful you become.

Mercy means helping anyone around you who is hurting.

You cannot love your neighbor as yourself without being merciful.

Proverbs 3:27 says,

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

“Whenever you possibly can, do well to those who need it”

 But God is not simply watching what you do. He’s watching your attitude:

“[When you] show mercy, do it cheerfully”

(Romans 12:8)

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Mercy means giving people a second chance. When somebody hurts us, we normally want to get even or write that person off.

But the Bible says, “Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude.

Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ”

Ephesians 4:31-32

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Mercy means doing good to those who hurt you.

Mercy is giving people what they need, not what they deserve.

Why should we do it? Because that’s what God does with you:

“Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.

Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because [God] is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36 NIV).

Mercy means being kind to those who offend you. You’ve got to be more interested in winning people to Christ than in winning the argument.

Jude 1:22-23 says,

And of some have compassion, making a difference:

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

“Show mercy to those who have doubts. Save others by snatching them from the fire of hell. Show mercy to others, even though you are afraid that you might be stained by their sinful lives”

Mercy means building bridges of love to the unpopular.

This is what I call premeditated mercy, because you intentionally build friendships with people who don’t have friends or who are not accepted in society.

When the Pharisees questioned why Jesus ate with tax collectors and other unpopular people, Jesus said,

Matthew 9:13

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

What Jesus was saying was simple, “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.”

Conclusion:

Mercy means valuing relationships over rules. Romans 13:10 says, “Love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.” If you want to show mercy, put people before policies. Put their needs before procedures. Put relationships before regulations. Choose love over law.