Jesus said "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy". (Matthew 5:7) Jesus values mercy. He blesses those who extend it. What is mercy? Mercy is compassionate forbearance. In essence, you do not inflict the punishment someone deserves and you do it because you have compassion on them.
God gave us mercy. 1 Peter 2:10 says "...once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." The Bible often contrasts mercy to wrath. So, Peter is saying, once we were subject to God's wrath. Now, because of his mercy, we are not.
God extended his mercy by sending his Son to give us salvation rather than judgment. As James said, "Mercy triumphs over judgment". (James 2:13) God gave us the ultimate mercy in bringing us to Christ and giving us salvation.
But God also extends daily mercy. He does not discipline us every time we sin. He often relieves us of the consequences of our sin and our bad judgment.
How can we be merciful? We do not have to right every wrong we suffer. We do not take revenge. We suffer unkindness, but return kindness.
Go out and be merciful today and receive God's blessing.
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