The gift of mercy is the motivation to identify with and comfort those who are in distress.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).
Mercy is God’s attitude toward those who are in darkness.
Characteristics
1. Mercy is a highly intuitive ‘feeling’ motivation. It could be called a ‘gift of heart.’
2. It is a shepherd’s characteristic, like Yeshua, the Good Shepherd, who left the 99 sheep to find the missing one in distress.
3. Has the ability to empathize with people who are in distress or joyful.
4. Brings healing and reconciliation by removing hurts and conflicts.
5. Emphasizing compassion and forgiveness, the merciful person avoids firmness and strong statements of Truth so as not to add insult to injury.
6. Ability to communicate God’s unconditional love for mankind through one’s eyes, speech, smile and touch.
Fruit of the Spirit
Romans 12:15, 1 Corinthians 12:26
This gift should characterize all believers because mercy is the essence of Messiah’s nature and ministry.
Temptations to Avoid
1. Resenting those who are not as sensitive to the feelings of others.
2. Failing to be firm when necessary. Love also speaks Truth and sometimes that truth hurts.
3. Being guided by emotions rather than the wisdom of God’s Word and the discernment of the Holy Spirit.
Problems and Misunderstandings
1. The avoidance of firmness may appear as weakness and indecisiveness.
2. The sensitivity to words and actions which have caused hurts in a person’s life can be viewed as an endorsement of the hurting person’s interpretation of such words and actions.
Scriptural Examples
1. Yeshua, ‘the unspeakable gift of mercy”, He can feel for all of us because He walked where we walk: “For we have not a high priest whoch cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like we are yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15, He totally identified with us by taking our sins, our sicknesses, our griefs and sorrows to the cross to die in order to provide the ultimate cure, He sent another ‘Comforter’ – the Holy Spirit – to live in our hearts and minister His healing, His peace and comfort all the days of our lives.
2. Paul, the Apostle endeaveored to be all things to all men that he might by all means save some, 1 Corinthians 9:19-22; wished that he could be cursed so that his brothers in the flesh might be saved, Romans 9:1-3
3. Dorcas, abounded with deeds of kindness and love, helped widows in need, made garments for the poor, Acts 9:36
4. The Good Samaritan, Luke 10:30
General Counsel and Application
There will be a desperate need for this gift in the endtimes. Men’s hearts will fail them for fear of those things coming upon the earth. Satan will endeavor to ‘wear out’ the saints. The world will be filled with cruelty and violence. Even natural pity will be gone (2 Timothy 3:3). With the breakdown of the home, hurting children and parents will be everywhere. The Body of Messiah, filled with mercy, will have her finest hour.
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©2013 Tentstake MInistries Publishing with The Keys to Church Harmony, 1983