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BE MERCIFUL
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1
James 2:12-13

Matthew 5:7

 

“Blessed are the merciful…”

 

BE MERCIFUL
 
Every saint is a sinner saved by the grace of God alone through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s grace that grants us, undeserving sinners, the gift to believe in Christ is coupled with His mercy that withholds the punishment we deserve because of our sins. This punishment was taken in full by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, when He became man’s representative and substituted us on the cross. Being recipients of God’s mercy, the Lord desires we should also be merciful to others.
 
Be judged by the law of liberty: The Apostle calls his readers’ attention to those who claim to be believers of the Lord Jesus Christ. He could have said, “You who profess to believe, you claim to be saved by His grace and mercy. Then prove your claim with your actions.” How? By keeping the law that has set them free from the bondage of sin. The Gospel is the law of liberty because it delivers them out of the bondage and condemnation of sin. It brings them the ultimate eternal emancipation from the Lake of Fire. As the Lord has treated us mercifully by withholding the judgment we deserve based on His law of liberty, must not this also be the basis in man’s dealing with others?
 
As a judge showing mercy: A person who claims to be a believer but does not apply mercy in judging others is perplexing. He who has received mercy from his Lord, why does he not show mercy to others? Such a confessor of Christ can rightly be assessed as being ignorant of God’s mercy. He may actually not have experienced the mercy of God. This is the most conceivable explanation. He cannot show mercy to others, for he has not received it. If this is true, then he is not saved.
 
Dear reader, please understand that there is no true born-again believer who has not experienced God’s mercy. And those who have experienced His mercy are able to be equally merciful to others. Only recipients of God’s mercy can undoubtedly be compassionate to others.
 
THOUGHT: Am I merciful to those around me?
PRAYER: Father, help me to apply in practice the mercy I have received from Thee through the Lord Jesus Christ.

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