Saturday, May 17- Matthew 5:7-8

Hi all,

(verse7)
Mercy is pretty amazing- let's look at it closer.
If you are a merciful person you are forgiving, compassionate, kind and selfless. You don't expect anything in return when reaching out to someone in need. You withhold punishment or judgement from someone who deserves otherwise (that's pretty cool). Mercy is like cutting someone a break- perhaps when they least expect it.

You really need a sensitive heart in order to have a merciful heart.
For some, mercy is a gift from God- for others, prayer is needed for God to help them keep the eyes of their hearts opened to the needs of others.
Mercy is powerful and can make an eternal impact of someones life.


Jesus is our perfect example of mercy- showing us time and time again, portraying mercy so beautifully with just about every person he came in contact with. Befriending the friendless, healing the outcasts, feeding the hungry, spending time with the hated, saving the lost, teaching the open-minded, dying on the cross... and what did he get in return for all his acts of mercy? Mostly, questions how or why- rarely any thanks. But, then again showing mercy means you are not expecting anything in return.

What are you doing with your life in return for the mercy Christ has shown?

Who can you show (more) mercy to today? a single parent, an elderly neighbor, a fellow student with no friends, someone in financial need, a family dealing with a serious illness, an abused friend, your brother or sister (for real!), a stranger...


How can you show mercy? making a meal, cleaning, giving a ride, inviting them to hang out with you and your friends, listening, babysitting for free, forgiving someone who doesn't deserve it, paying for someones coffee, dessert, dinner, etc.

Showing mercy isn't a once and done thing. We need to always be looking for ways to show mercy, praying for God to show us who He wants us to bless.


(verse 8)
What does it mean to 'see God?' To see His love, forgiveness, provision, wisdom, mercy, power--
To see God is to be able to truly embrace all of who God is and who He can be in your life. And it might be just seeing a part of God that is needed for a specific moment. Many people wonder why they don't see God's provision, mercy, and so on- well, according to verse 8 in today's scripture, a person needs to keep their heart pure before God in order to see God.
[[side note]]
now this isn't across the board... for reasons only known to Him, God may choose to reveal Himself to someone who isn't seeking Him at all- or He may withhold something from someone living a completely pure and humble life.


The following scripture is a big help in showing us how we can have a pure heart:
"Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and heard and saw me me doing."(Philippians 4:8-9)


In so many words, these two verses are saying: pure thoughts yield pure actions and together they produce a pure heart. What goes into the mind usually comes out in action.

What are you feeding your mind? If Internet, music, movies, inappropriate conversation, and the like out weigh your time spent in God's Word, serving, praying, and in fellowship with other believers- then you need to ask God to help you find ways to fix your thoughts on Him more, so you can see Him more clearly and be blessed by His presence in your life.

I hope you are challenged today to find ways for showering someone with mercy and to live with a pure heart before God. If you, are then get ready to be blessed, God is waiting.


I love you guys!!!
Pam S.