Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
—Matthew 5:7
Awareness of how merciful God has been to us should compel us to be merciful to others. “The Lord is compassionate and gracious . . . he does not treat us as our sins deserve” (Ps 103:8, 10). God doesn’t just forgive us when we fail; he erases any record of the failure. He doesn’t just reduce our sentence; he eliminates it. He delights in showing mercy (Mi 7:18). So should we.
“Judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy” (Jas 2:13 ESV). On the other hand, mercy extended to others assures God’s mercy extended to us: “With the merciful you show yourself merciful” (Ps 18:25 ESV).
“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Mi 6:8).
We deserve justice, but have received mercy.