Happily Merciful

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

HAPPILY MERCIFUL

Matt 5:7

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

NIV

The way this is phrased makes it sound that if we show mercy, we will be shown mercy. In this scenario our being shown mercy is dependent on us showing mercy first. This would be the same as in the Lord’s prayer when we ask to forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us. Italics added to clarify for ourselves that as Matthew records this it sounds like these two happen parallel or are at the same time. In other words, while we are showing mercy, which in some sense includes forgiveness, as in the Lord’s prayer, we are being shown mercy or are being forgiven. This happens in a happy, content, satisfied, and completely connected to God's life. It is interesting how Luke approaches this Lord’s prayer about forgiveness, which would include or is compatible with showing mercy. Luke records it in a way that sounds like we must first forgive others before we even seek forgiveness from God. That is we should not bother to seek any form of forgiveness, or in this case, mercy from God unless we first forgive or show mercy to others. There is one other possibility as shown to us in the story of the unforgiving servant. He was first forgiven but refused to forgive others. Here is where mercy fits the same way. God first shows us mercy, but if we do not show mercy in return to others, we stand condemned. Which of these three fits better, or could all three ways be applied in some sense in tandem? It would seem if we were bless-ed or living this happy life because we are connected to God then we would show mercy simply because being connected to God we have mercy from him. The fact is that God’s mercy on us is not dependent on us showing mercy because God’s mercy was shown to us with Jesus on the Cross, way before we were even old enough to know the meaning of mercy. The meaning here must imply that because we have been given mercy by God we are happy, content, satisfied, fulfilled and as a result of that condition, it is a simple matter, a common condition of our heart to be merciful to others, which includes always forgiving or being in an attitude of forgiving, which means not holding a grudge, or always demanding our way. Because we are living a happy life, we can show mercy or compassion.