Mercy

  Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Many things move our emotions. The abortion of an unborn child. Sex-trafficking. Starving people. Genocide. Christians are being persecuted and killed. These things, and many more, stir our hearts. But mercy shows up when we actually do something. Mercy’s formula is powerful: Compassion + Action = Mercy. Mercy is not the ice cap frozen at the top of the mountain; rather it is the mountain stream. Mercy lives in motion. It is never stagnant. Mercy combines strong emotion with practical demonstration. It is an internal feeling that manifests itself in external action. Many people can speak eloquently on the problems of the world and how each problem can be fixed. But talk is cheap; mercy is costly. The merciful put their money, resources, time, and energy where their mouth is. Anyone can talk, the merciful act. And those who act mercifully to others will receive their share of mercy from God. Talking Points

• Ask God to help you evaluate your mercy giving. Is it active and demonstrable?
• Teach your children that more than talk is demonstrating true mercy.

Father, remind me that my talk is cheap. Remind me that many words and stagnant emotions make little impact. Remind me that mercy is costly. Move me to invest and sacrifice in ways to drive my emotion into action. Thank you for your mercy to me. Help me be merciful to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.    

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This Week on The Journey Broadcast:

  Engaging in the Battle