“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Matthew 5: 7 NIV
One of the ways God speaks to me is through music. He never fails. He has comforted through with a song, convicted through a song, encouraged through a song. Here lately, He has reminded through a song. For King and Country has a song out that has been playing on the radio for a while now “Fix My Eyes”. I liked it at first because it had a catchy chorus and beat, but then I started to really listen to the lyrics. Wow, the words touched my heart!!! A perfect example of living a life that is merciful is in this chorus.
“I’d Love like I’m not scared
Give when it’s not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix my eyes on You
On You”
How can I be sure that these lyrics are about merciful living? Let’s look at the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25. In this parable Jesus is teaching about the last great judgement that is still to come. He will be separating the sheep (believers) from the goats (unbelievers) and one of the phrases in this parable goes in line with the believers who live a life of mercy. “
“35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'” Matthew 25: 35-36 NIV
Living a merciful life is living a life of compassion, helping those who are in need, helping those who can not help themselves and loving with no regrets. In order to be able to live a life of mercy, we have to keep our eyes on God and learn more about who He is in order to reflect Him. He is our strength.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8 NIV
“The pure in heart – The sanctified: they who love God with all their hearts. They shall see God – In all things here; hereafter in glory. Matthew 5:8”, by John Wesley’s Commentary Notes
When we accept our grace-filled gift of salvation, God creates a new work in us. Look at what Colossians has to say.
“10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;” Colossians 2:10-11 NIV
Before we accepted God’s grace-filled gift of salvation, our heart was hard and against His ways. His circumcision of our heart cleaned us and softened our heart towards Him and His ways. Our relationship with God should be one that grows so when we walk in the order given in the Beatitudes. Of course Jesus is going to mention our heart. Our actions are a reflection of what is in our heart. When we are poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungry, thirsty and merciful; of course as a believer when we do all this with a pure heart without a self agenda. We will be pure in heart. Because all on the list before, reflects God and His ways which should be what is in our heart.
In His Love, Crisi
This post is being shared with GROW in His Word on Facebook. Next week, we will be looking at Matthew 5:9-10. Until then, may God richly bless your walk with Him.