1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian 6 - Blessed are the merciful

for revenge is such a hugely powerful temptation and even though it sounds so graphic, is one that if we are honest, we can rationalise and justify so easily. The story of Joseph in the Old Testament is a story that so well illustrates the good management of power. That even though he was sold as a slave with no power at all, there came a day in his story when bountiful mercy was given to those who had wronged him. This has to, in my opinion and I believe God’s too, separate the men from the boys. People of robust faith are able to forgive and show mercy and move on. These people, at the same time, are notably some of the happiest people in the world. They never lie awake at 3am in the morning dreaming of ways to get even with people who have wronged them. These are the people who do not get ulcers through bitterness and anger gone wrong. When Jesus said it is blessed to be merciful, I wonder if he had some of these benefits in mind. Prayer Thought: As you pray today won’t you be mindful of the mercy that you have Thought received as a believer from the hands of a holy God and then consider, if you will, those who may need to be recipients of your mercy. On the same basis that you have received, now you need to give. Wednesday Reading: Yesterday we discussed the source of mercy, but I think at this point it might be good to clarify THE MEANING of mercy mercy. In the realm of theological study, theologians have a tool that they use to help them better understand the Scriptures. This tool is called “critical comparison”. This means that they take two similar words and critically compare them to define more accurately their meaning. I would like to do this very briefly in the context of the word “mercy”. One: Let us compare Mercy and Forgiveness Forgiveness is smaller than mercy Forgiveness. because forgiveness is very often the result of mercy. This would be true in the context of salvation, that the reason we are forgiven is that it is a fruit of the mercy of God. Two: Let’s consider the difference between Mercy and Love In this case mercy is less Love. than love. Love is always the big one. 1 Corinthians 13 makes this totally clear. In verse 3 it says “…even if I give all I possess to the poor [that’s mercy] and surrender my body to the flames but have not love I gain nothing.” So mercy is a result of love.

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