Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
This passage of scripture basically tells us that we will be dealt the hand we serve others, for it's the golden rule applied to the issue of mercy. In the administration of mercy, God as always deals impartially to all people, taking the initiative to help, heal, and save wherever and whenever He can. It's important for us to know that when God sees a need, He often fills that need when not petitioned, even when there is no gratitude to be received. After Christ had healed the ten lepers, there was only one man who returned to give thanks, yet Jesus did not withdraw the blessings of health from the other nine on account of this.
This pattern should be observed and faithfully followed by Christians, for it is a principle that should be carefully cultivated and written in our hearts, finding expression in deeds of love and kindness, wherever the need arises, as we pass along life's busy highway. Mercy was bestowed on Lot by Abraham even after Lot selfishly chose the most fertile part of the land, leaving Abraham to battle with the hill country.
Not long after Lot had chosen Sodom as his place of abode, because of the lucrative business opportunities the city afforded, it was attacked by a conglomerate of warring nations that stripped all of the inhabitants of Sodom of their possessions, leaving their women, men and children destitute of all they had ever owned. Upon learning of this, Abraham immediately gathered 318 of his well trained servants, and through the power of God was able to retrieve almost all that was lost. Abraham did not view this unfortunate situation that befell Lot as punishment for his misdeeds, nor did he once even hesitate in his decision to help, for mercy when exercised through the power of the indwelling Christ, knows no boundaries, nor is it impartial, being withheld because of old grudges, or being bestowed because of expected favors.
Mercy is promised to all who harbor and cultivate the disposition to be merciful across the board, in all situations and under all circumstances, for it is not merely something that we should do, it is a way we should think and live.
In our day, a practical application of this godly principle needs to be made as we interact with our fellowmen, our co-workers, our in-laws, and "out-laws". Often in our lives, kindness is withheld from those who are deemed not worthy of our consideration because of wrongs done to us, or because we may have been evil-spoken of. God is calling all Christians to a much higher standard, and if we are willing by the grace of God to deny self, Christ will work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure, implanting in us a new nature whereby genuine deeds of kindness and mercy will spring forth spontaneously without us even having to think about it. We therefore submit a passage of scripture for our consideration and meditation as we close our brief commentary. Let's read:
Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
We sincerely hope and pray that this principle will come alive in our daily experience both now and forevermore. "Good night" and God bless!