Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
1/18 Reading Portions: Genesis 19; Matthew 18; Nehemiah 8; Acts 18
Matthew 18:34
“And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.”
MERCY
Although the servant in Christ’s parable begged and pleaded with his master for mercy, he received a measure of mercy because Christ is merciful. There are many sinners who have “walked down the ol’ sawdust trail” and pleaded to God for mercy at some manmade “altar” with some outward humility and even some inward sorrow. Afterward, he walks around enjoying, and even testifying of, the manifest blessings of God in Christ. Nevertheless, when this kind of person is confronted with an opportunity to bestow mercy toward another, he is greedy, cruel, and unmerciful (Matt 18:28-30). His life is evidence of one which had not truly been regenerated. Such is not a new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). Were he born from above and truly saved by God’s grace, he would have obtained Christ’s mercy as a personal, operational blessing. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said,
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7 (emphasis added)
Another version says,
…for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7, KJV (emphasis added)
I believe both words are correct. As we are saved by God’s grace, experiencing Christ’s mercy, opportunities arise when we may demonstrate Christ’s mercy— to be merciful— we shall receive from Christ the power to show mercy, as well as gain, obtain, and acquire the very nature of Christ to transform our characters so we may become more like Christ when displaying mercy.
Certainly, there will be moments when our flesh rises, and we fail miserably to be merciful. The flesh is selfish and sinister and does, at times, overtake us (Rom 7:18-24). Yet if we have been truly saved by God’s grace, we will repent of such worldly lusts, and we will once again receive Christ’s mercy and obtain His favor. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Christ’s steadfast love is the great gift
Bestow’d upon our souls;
Yet, Christ shows mercy through us if
His glory is our goal.