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Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Extending Mercy
"What great blessings there are for the people that give
mercy to other people! Mercy will be given to them."
-- Matthew 5:7 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
God has treated us much, much better than we deserve. That fundamental,
undergirding spiritual truth is the reality of grace. He has seen us in
our sin and had mercy on us because of his great love for us (see Rom.
5:6-11). Even though we have repeatedly proved unfaithful and
undependable, both individually and as a group, God has been gracious
and merciful. He has repeatedly offered forgiveness, help, redemption,
and salvation when we least deserved it. Rather than dealing with us
strictly as law would demand, God has dealt with us as a loving father
does with his children. This conditioning reality must show up in us.
How can we claim to be his children and not be merciful? How can we
call for retribution against our brothers and sisters, when fairness
would demand we pay a great penalty for our sin? In the Kingdom Family,
mercy rules. When that mercy is forgotten by us, then God has promised
to use our standard of mercilessness when he judges us. Yet as long as
we are merciful to others, God will show us mercy.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Holy and righteous Father, I confess that I often want justice when I
am violated and mercy when I sin. Thank you for not treating me as I
deserve, but instead providing Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice that
extends your mercy to me and fulfills your justice on my behalf. Soften
my heart that I may reflect your grace and mercy in my dealings with
those who have injured me. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
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>> For further study of today's passage, use our
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http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Matthew+5:7&sr=1&t=erv
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