Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7
So, if I have mercy on someone else, they’ll be merciful in return, right? You know the answer. Or, if I simply do this, God will automatically do the same for me, right (again)? Again, you know the answer. To quote the song, “it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.”
Specifically, the swing is from our hearts. But thank you Duke Ellington.
In other words, if our heart-attitude isn’t merciful, it’ ain’t swing. Mercy is a posture of the heart, not just an action. It’s wanting to give mercy where logic and situation present other choices. It’s a heart-mindset that we will not react in ways that others’ behavior merits. It’s a desire to act as God would when other people do things to offend, wrong, or hurt us. Swing, baby.
James reminds us that judgment without mercy is terrifying because mercy trumps judgment. If God weren’t merciful to sinful me and you, we couldn’t exist. We should be eager to be merciful because our hearts tell our minds that mercy is the right thing to do.
There’s plenty of hatred in the world; there’s plenty of division. It’s ok, sometimes good, to respectfully disagree, or to righteously stand for one’s Godly beliefs. Yet, when others fight, or argue, or keep talking to get the last word, perhaps each of us should give a little mercy and let them have the field. Perhaps we should give them a break when someone wrongs us and retribution is within our power or right. Maybe we should back away when emotion tries urging us into angry response.
Get that swing. Brother, and sister, that aint easy, especially when we’re hurting, or when others hurt us. Especially when other people probably won’t be inclined to show us mercy; that isn’t human nature. But have mercy anyways. If we are really hungry and thirsty for Jesus, then we should do what He did – and does – and give others the benefit of the doubt. Forgive, then move forward. At the end of the Civil War, someone asked Abraham Lincoln how the US should treat the former rebels. “Let ‘em up easy,” was Honest Abe’s godly reply. Right on, right on. Swingin’ then, swingin’ now
This isn’t saying to be unjust, or to deny the processes of justice. It is saying that we should trust God’s justice to work on our behalf; let Him enforce it through our systems. In the meantime, have mercy. Pray for those who accuse, or torment, or hurt us. Have mercy because God will show us mercy when our hearts drive us to choose the right thing. Show mercy because Jesus would. Be merciful because our Father in heaven is merciful and asks us to. Get that swing.
For more reading: James 2:13, Matthew 5:8
Father, heal my unmerciful ways, and help me to show Your love to others by showing them mercy.
Practical Proverbs 