Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy (Matt. 5:7).
You see, God will measure us with our own bushels, as someone has said. "He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy" (James 2:13)
We must remember the two bears, bear and forbear. Surely we wish to be blessed and have mercy extended to us. If we fulfill the condition, we shall experience the beatitude. It is our privilege to be merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful (Luke 6:36). And this mercy is to be shown "with cheerfulness" (Rom. 12:8). In the parable of the good Samaritan the true neighbor was the one who showed mercy to a stranger.
Alexander Whyte, of Edinburgh, tells of an interview with a fine Christian man in his congregation who had given much for good causes and had helped many poor people in need. One day, after finishing some church business, he looked at the minister with earnest eyes and said, "Now, have ye any word for an old sinner?"
"It took my breath away," said Whyte, "for I knew he was an old saint. But the paradox of grace is that the greatest saints feel themselves the greatest sinners. So I arose and held up my hand to him, and said, 'He delighteth in mercy' (Micah 7:18), and left the room. The next morning I received a letter from him. I have it on my desk. It read: 'Dear Friend: I will never doubt Him again. The sins of my youth--the sins of my youth. I was near the gates of hell, but that word of God comforted me, and I will never doubt Him again. I will never despair again. If the devil casts my sins in my teeth I will say, "Yes, it is all true, and you cannot tell the half of it, but I have to do with One who delighteth in mercy." ' "
Whyte declared that that letter sanctified his desk.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "For thou, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee" (Ps. 86:5).
You see, God will measure us with our own bushels, as someone has said. "He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy" (James 2:13)
We must remember the two bears, bear and forbear. Surely we wish to be blessed and have mercy extended to us. If we fulfill the condition, we shall experience the beatitude. It is our privilege to be merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful (Luke 6:36). And this mercy is to be shown "with cheerfulness" (Rom. 12:8). In the parable of the good Samaritan the true neighbor was the one who showed mercy to a stranger.
Alexander Whyte, of Edinburgh, tells of an interview with a fine Christian man in his congregation who had given much for good causes and had helped many poor people in need. One day, after finishing some church business, he looked at the minister with earnest eyes and said, "Now, have ye any word for an old sinner?"
"It took my breath away," said Whyte, "for I knew he was an old saint. But the paradox of grace is that the greatest saints feel themselves the greatest sinners. So I arose and held up my hand to him, and said, 'He delighteth in mercy' (Micah 7:18), and left the room. The next morning I received a letter from him. I have it on my desk. It read: 'Dear Friend: I will never doubt Him again. The sins of my youth--the sins of my youth. I was near the gates of hell, but that word of God comforted me, and I will never doubt Him again. I will never despair again. If the devil casts my sins in my teeth I will say, "Yes, it is all true, and you cannot tell the half of it, but I have to do with One who delighteth in mercy." ' "
Whyte declared that that letter sanctified his desk.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "For thou, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee" (Ps. 86:5).
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