May 13 - Matthew 5:7

May 13
Matthew 5:7

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall see mercy.

Over the past several Daily Devotions, we have been looking at the character of those who are part of the Kingdom of God. In other words, what is the character of what God is looking for in His children? As we arrive today on the 5th blessing today of one who demonstrates from the heart the character of a believer in Christ, we see that blessings (happiness and spiritual prosperity) comes to those who are merciful toward others.

We must first understand that God showed His mercy to us in that He called us to repentance and to receive Him into our life. And when we did, God continues His mercy toward us in that He is doing a work of changing us into the image of Christ as we continuously surrender our lives over to Him.

• It was God's mercy upon us in that the first five beatitudes have fallen upon us where we became poor in spirit - and God has blessed us with the Kingdom of heaven. That is an eternal blessed - now and forevermore.
• It was God's mercy upon us that when we mourned over our spiritual poverty - God then comforted us with Himself.
• It was God's mercy when we became meak (teachable) for we then became blessed to learn of His laws that brings forth His inheritance upon our lives in that we live prosperous lives even here on earth.
• It was God's mercy upon us when our hearts came to a place where we sought after God's righteousness, desiring to live according to His ways. As such, we became and am becoming continuously filled.
• It was God's mercy upon us when we become merciful toward others, for then mercy will come back to us.

Because we have receive God's mercy upon us, we can then be merciful toward others who have not had the same privilege as us who have and continously have God mercy upon us. As such, we will be compassionate toward others, regardless of where they are at in their life. Our hearts yearn for the salvation of the souls of others - to help them in the same way Christ has helped us. 

While receiving back mercy from those we give mercy to is a principle God set within the hearts of mankind, we do live in a sinful world of sinful people. We may not always receive mercy back from others, but God is always with us, promising to never leave us, and He will continue to show His mercy upon us in the midst, while we continue to have mercy upon others. So regardless of how others treat us, let us continue to show mercy toward others and God will reward us. That is part of His love that He pours out upon His family.