Ready:
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” – Matthew 5:7
Set:
Picture yourself in this scenario: One of your teammates or players makes a bad off-the-field choice. They do something they know is wrong, they get caught and they’re facing a suspension. Their foolish actions have now put your team in a difficult spot.
How would you respond to this teammate or player? One possibility is to hammer them: lay into them verbally. Another possibility is to be done with them: make it known that you want them kicked off the team. There’s yet another option: you can show mercy. Why even consider this option?
In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus describes what life is like under His rule as our King. He says in Matthew 5:7 that we experience the blessings of His reign when we’re merciful. Rather than giving someone what they deserve for the wrongs they’ve committed, to be merciful is to treat them with compassion, kindness, and forgiveness. Why is being merciful a high value for followers of Jesus? Because we know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of the Lord’s incredible mercy: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!” (Ephesians 2:4-5)
The reason Jesus says that those who are merciful “will be shown mercy” is not because we earn mercy by being merciful. Rather, Jesus is pointing out that we only experience the full extent of God’s mercy as we realize how completely undeserving we are of His mercy. This motivates us to demonstrate mercy to other undeserving people. Grateful recipients of the Lord’s mercy willingly give mercy.
Back to our opening scenario: As you are merciful in response to this undeserving teammate or player, you have a chance to be part of the transformational work Jesus desires to do in their life. Being merciful doesn’t mean there are no consequences for wrong actions. But even as these consequences are carried out, you can treat this person with compassion, kindness and forgiveness rather than hammering them or giving up on them. As you do so, you’re giving them and others a taste of what it’s like to live under the merciful, gracious reign of King Jesus.
Go:
How specifically has the Lord been merciful to you?
Who around you needs to experience God’s mercy through you—even if you’re tempted to hammer them or give up on them?
Workout:
Overtime:
"Lord, I praise You because You are rich in mercy. Thank You that You are merciful to me rather than giving me what my sins deserve. I pray that I would extend this same mercy to others—even in situations when it’s hard to do so. May those around me experience Your mercy through me. Amen.”