Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – Matthew 5:7 – Shown Mercy – Growing As Disciples
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7 (NIV)
Merciful
I want to be like you. I want to live like you lived. I want to go where you went. I want to do what you did. What exactly do you have in mind? That is a good question. I want to have your heart and mind. I want to love others like you loved. I want to think your thoughts. I want to know and do your will. You have shown me your kindness, mercy and love. I know that it is your will that I become like you. I know that you want me to do what you did. I know you want me to go where you went. I know that you want me to become like you. So, I am telling you that I want what you want. That is very good.
What will you do with those who have hurt and harmed you? How will you respond to those who are less fortunate than you? What attitude will you have to those who are feeble and weak? How will you act toward those who are full of pride and arrogance? How will you relate to those who are self-indulgent, self-sufficient and self-centered? Those are all good questions. Each one of those questions places a test before me. In every case, I will need to affirm my commitment and desire to live like you lived and do what you did. That’s right. Without your help, I would not pass these tests. I cannot love like you loved without your love living in me. I would not be able to show others your mercy without being grateful and thankful for the mercy that you have shown to me. I have not earned your forgiveness. I do not merit your love. You have shown me your kindness, mercy and love even though I have certainly not deserved it. You have not shown me your anger and judgement even though I have deserved it. I am thankful. I am grateful. I know that I love you because you first loved me. Oftentimes, you have used others to show me your love. Your kindness, mercy and love overflowed others’ lives and allowed them to be a witness in the world for you. I am someone else’s fruit. I came to you partly through you living in and through the lives of others. Yes, you did. Well, that’s exactly how I want you to use me. I want your kindness, mercy and love to flow through me, so that others can be drawn to you. Help me to be merciful to others just as you have been and continue to be merciful to me. That is a very good prayer that I will certainly hear and answer.
Lord, you have shown me your kindness, mercy and love. You have forgiven my sins and cleansed all my unrighteousness. You have not given me what I deserved. You have given me what I did not deserve. Help me now to show your abundant mercy to others. Amen
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Be – Matthew 5-7 – Shown Mercy – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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