A Ready Help in Time of Need

...he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

- Romans 12:8

As advances in technology enable us to create ever more powerful telescopes, every few years astronomers revise their estimates of the size of the universe. They tell us that our universe is expanding, that the galaxies furthest away from us are receding at incredible speeds.

When I entered high school we were taught that the universe was some 4 billion light years in diameter. By the time I graduated from college they were saying that the universe was some 8 billion light years across. Today they are saying it is somewhere between 12 and 18 billion light years in diameter. So it is expanding at a very rapid rate.

Someone once asked me, "Does it bother you when they come out with these new estimates of the size of the universe?"

"Not at all," I replied. "In fact, it thrills me. God said in Psalm 103:11, As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.' He didn't say how high that was, but however high it is, His mercy is that great toward those who fear him. Since the universe is expanding, that must mean His mercy is growing all the time! The expanding universe doesn't bother me; it makes me realize that God's mercy is just that much greater!"

A Merciful God

Mercy is a divine quality, springing from the very character and nature of God. It is an attitude that develops from compassion, from reaching out to help someone in need, and is characterized by kindness and tenderness.

Mercy contrasts with justice. So many times we say of a person, "He got exactly what he deserved." That's justice. But not getting what you deserve is mercy. We all deserve justice, but God gives us mercy. Because God is the source of all mercy and comfort, the mercies of God are a popular topic in the Bible.

The first mention of mercy in Scripture comes in a passage describing how the Lord destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. When the angel of the Lord came to get Lot and his family out of the doomed cities, the angels said, "Hurry, we cannot destroy the cities until you are out of here." Lot responded, "Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life" (Genesis 19:19).

Lot realized he could have easily been one of the victims destroyed in the two wicked cities. He recognized it was only the mercy of God that separated him from those who perished.

Jacob, too, realized how unworthy he was of God's mercy. He said, "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies ... You have shown" (Genesis 32:10). He was right. Jacob was a conniver. His name means "heel catcher," one who takes advantage of another by devious means. Jacob had deceived and connived his whole life, yet God showed him mercy and made him an ancestor of the Lord Jesus.

As we look at our own lives and see what God has done for us, we realize we don't deserve His mercies, either. Truly the Lord has been good and merciful to us. The blessings God has bestowed upon us are surely not the result of our meriting them. They come because of His mercy.

Many scriptures describe the mercies of God. Second Corinthians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort." Daniel 9:9 says, "To the Lord our God belong mercy and. forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him." Jeremiah wrote, "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not" (Lamentations 3:22). Psalm 116:5 tells us, "Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yes, our God is merciful." Moses insisted, "The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression" (Numbers 14:18). Deuteronomy 4:31 says, "For the Lord your God is a merciful God, He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them." Nehemiah 9:31 tells us, "Nevertheless in Your great mercy You did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; for You are God, gracious and merciful." Micah sums up many of these ideas when he says God "delights in mercy" (Micah 7:18).

God delights in mercy! I don't suppose you'll fully understand that until you're a grandparent. Oh, how I love to intercede for my grandkids. When they are at odds with their parents I'll ask, "May I just take them for a walk?" In that way I deliver the children from a spanking. I delight in mercy; it's glorious.

God is not only full of compassion and great in mercy, but His mercy endures forever. Some 41 times the Bible declares that the mercy of the Lord endures eternally. Psalm 100:5 is typical of these: "For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting."

So many people do not believe this. They do not see God as merciful. Their opinions have been formed largely by Satan's lies and they have a monumentally wrong concept of God.

For many years I thought God was angry with me most of the time. I knew what God wanted of me; I knew He wanted perfection. But since I was far from perfect, I imagined that God was constantly angry with me. I never questioned any misfortune that happened to me because I figured it was the judgment of God and I deserved it. If only I had listened to how God describes Himself!

When God met Moses on the mount to deliver the second copy of the Law - Moses had broken the first tablets - the Bible says, "The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin" (Exodus 34:5-7). That's the God whom you serve; this is how He describes Himself. He is a merciful God!

Since my younger days, my view of God has changed drastically. Today I know Him as a loving God who eternally delights in mercy. I know He's not mad at me, and I couldn't be happier that He has called me to serve Him!

We're Not Merciful by Nature

The great mercy of God only highlights the ugly fact that we are far from merciful. Mankind is vengeful by nature. We like to get even. We like the idea of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." You've heard it said, "To err is human, to forgive divine." It could also be said that to seek revenge is human, but to show mercy is divine.

My problem is that while I want to receive mercy from God, I also want to dispense justice. I don't want people to get away with evil against me. I want justice ... except, of course, when I'm coming to God about my own failings. Then I want mercy!

Because mercy isn't one of our natural characteristics, it takes a work of God's Spirit in our heart for us to be merciful. God must plant this aspect of His nature in us; it is a gift. Therefore, it is quite proper that the showing of mercy is listed as one of the gifts of the Spirit.

If we are wronged and find ourselves plotting to get even, we need to bring our attitude to the cross and say, "Lord, give me your mercy. Lord, let me show mercy in this situation. Lord, take away from my heart this desire for revenge to get even."

For us to show mercy takes a special work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And, thus, it is properly listed as a gift.

When Mercy Isn't

Some people seem to have this gift of showing mercy. They give offenders a second and third and fourth chance. It's a gift. They have that capacity of showing mercy I know one thing for sure: Some people have the gift of mercy and others don't.

When some people show "mercy," they grow real somber, and you can tell that, even as they say they forgive you, they're thinking, I wish I could pound you into the ground for what you did, but God tells me I have to show mercy. But I don't think I'll ever be able to recover from this. These people try to make you feel guilty and remorseful, to make you realize the seriousness of your offense.

Many years ago when my father-in-law died, Kay and I went to a funeral home to make arrangements for burial services. A man in a black suit and tie greeted us, wringing his hands and saying, "May I help you?" The poor fellow had chewed off all of his nails and was an emotional wreck. As he talked about the service he kept saying, "Your father - dear, oh my! For such a young child to lose her father." Then he started to cry. We were handling it pretty well until we met this guy! He was trying to show mercy, but he clearly didn't have the gift.

When Job was suffering through all of his trials, his friends came to comfort him - but ended up accusing him. They offered all their theories about the reason for his misfortunes. One said he was a hypocrite; another said he was a liar; and they all said God was punishing him for some secret sin. Finally Job said, "Miserable comforters are you all! You don't show me a speck of mercy. You're no help." And he wished they had never come.

On the other hand, there are times when you've blown it big time and you feel as if your world has come crashing to an end. There doesn't seem to be any reason to try and go on any longer. Then, into your discouragement step friends who really have the gift of mercy. They are so cheerful and confident about the future that they lift you out of your despair.

That's the way people act who have the gift of mercy. They don't show up with a somber face and a low murmur, "Well, I don't know. I suppose we'll try and somehow work this out together. I'll always stand with you, brother."

Those with the gift of mercy say things like, "You know, the Lord is on the throne, and we haven't seen the end of it yet. God's going to bring us through, and we're going to see God's victory All we have to do is wait upon the Lord and trust in Him, and He's going to bring it together. Yes, you did wrong; but thank God that He's mercifully forgiving, He's kind and He's loving. Let's go on from here. Let's not wallow in the past." They buoy you up and lift you out of discouragement, and you know that you can go on another day. And you look forward to seeing what God might have in store for you.

Mercy Should Be Cheerful

Paul said that those who have the gift of mercy should exercise it with cheerfulness (Romans 12:8). Of course, without God's Spirit empowering us, this is impossible.

Some people have a way of smiling and saying, "Well, that's all right," but are still plotting revenge in their heart. Usually you can tell they're not really being merciful. Their lack of cheerfulness lets you know they're still burning over whatever wrong had been done to them.

That isn't showing mercy with cheerfulness by a long shot. It is possible to show mercy because God commands it without really having mercy in your heart. Yet that's where God wants it, in your heart. The Spirit wants the attitude of our hearts to match our actions.

If I am helping people in need, then I must do so with cheerfulness. If I am sitting at a hotline, the phone rings, and I think, Oh, no! I wonder what kind of gross problems this one has? then I shouldn't be sitting at that hotline. We need to show mercy with cheerfulness, and if we're not doing so then it would be better if we didn't lend a helping hand at all. Only service done to God with a willing heart, full of love, earns a reward.

Those with the gift of mercy are eager to do so cheerfully because God has been so compassionate to them and has blessed them so much. Their hearts leap at the chance to reach out in mercy to others. Showing mercy is a thrill and a delight. A person with the gift of mercy loves to plug into a need to help someone in their time of trouble. They can't help but show mercy with cheerfulness.

Mercy Leads to Forgiveness

Mercy is a parallel trait to forgiveness; to show forgiveness is to show mercy. Therefore the things that are said about forgiveness are also true concerning mercy.

Jesus tells us to be careful how we judge others, for the same measure of judgment we use with others will be applied to us. If we are harsh and judgmental, we will face a harsh judgment. If we are merciful, we shall receive mercy (see Matthew 7:1,2). James said, "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy" (James 2:13).

In His model prayer, Jesus included this petition: 'And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." At the end of the prayer Jesus paused to emphasize this petition. "For if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses," He said (Matthew 6:15). This means Jesus made our forgiveness dependent upon our being forgiving. Some of you theologians may want to argue this point, but don't do it with me - talk to Jesus. He's the One who said it. The Lord's basic point was this: Having received forgiveness from God, we should forgive others. A parable in Matthew 18 highlights this principle.

A servant borrowed what amounted to 16 million dollars from his master. When the servant begged for more time to repay it, his master forgave him the whole debt. Yet that servant tracked down someone who owed him 16 dollars, grabbed him by the throat, and threatened that if he didn't immediately repay, he'd be thrown into debtor's prison. When the man asked for more time, this servant tossed him in jail.

The servant's friends saw what happened and reported it to their master. Furious, the master hauled the wicked man before him and said, "Tell me - how much did you owe me?" "About 16 million dollars," the servant replied. "And didn't I forgive your debt?" the master demanded. "Yes," replied the servant. "Well, what is this I hear about you having a fellow servant thrown into debtor's prison because of a 16-dollar debt?" the master roared. Then he ordered his men to take the man and throw him into prison until he had paid back the entire amount.

Jesus used extreme amounts so we'd get the idea. God has forgiven us so very, very much - an enormous debt of sin. God wiped it out. Because of what His Son did on the cross, God said to us, "I forgive you." Yet we are so prone to hold bitter feelings against a fellow servant because of some little wrong done to us. Maybe someone didn't smile when we walked by and we think, I'll get you, man. That's what the Lord is talking about here. If we have been forgiven such a huge debt, who are we to harbor petty grievances against our brothers?

Something is wrong when we say, "I'll forgive you, but I can't forget what you did." That's like saying, "I'll bury the hatchet, but I'll leave the handle exposed so that if I need it again I'll be able to grab it in a hurry." That isn't true forgiveness, nor is it true mercy. And it certainly is not what we want God to do with us. So when you forgive, forget. That's true forgiveness and that's real mercy.

The Positive Side of Mercy

We shouldn't get the idea that showing mercy is merely a negative action; it isn't merely restraining oneself from, judgment. The gift of mercy should lead a person to positive action.

How many times do we recall in the New Testament where people cried to Jesus for mercy? The blind man called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (Mark 10:47). This wasn't a request for forgiveness or a plea to forestall judgment. He was asking Jesus to have pity on him, to have compassion toward his needs. Remember the ten lepers who cried out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (Luke 17:13), the Syro-Phoenician woman who begged for her daughter, "Have mercy on me, O Lord" (Matthew 15:22), and the father with the demon-possessed son who called for mercy (Matthew 17:15)? In each case, Jesus was moved with compassion to reached out and help these suffering people.

Mercy is the driving force behind the Covering Wings ministry, a group that takes blankets around Christmastime to homeless people so that they can cover themselves on the cold winter nights. It is mercy and compassion for the unborn child that drives Operation Rescue. Mercy is what causes these people to stand in front of abortion clinics to voice their objection to the horrible national crime of allowing life to be taken within the womb. The good Samaritan had mercy on the Jew who had been victimized by the robber.

When you are motivated by mercy, you see a need and your heart is moved and touched, so you reach out. It is mercy that extends a helping hand to someone in trouble or who is distressed. This is the positive side to showing mercy.

Showing Mercy: A Divine Command

We should note that we need to show mercy - whether we have the gift or not. It's not an option; it's a command.

Jesus commanded us in Luke 6:36, "Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful." We're to take on this characteristic of God's nature. As a child of God, you are to be merciful just as your Father is merciful. God is our example in showing mercy, and we're to be like our Father. He sets the standard for us.

Micah 6:8 says, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" And in Zechariah 7:9 the Lord said, "Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother."

Just as our own forgiveness is related to our being forgiving, Jesus tied our showing mercy to our receiving mercy. Many of the graces God bestows upon us are tied to our bestowing those same graces on others. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7). This is also borne out in the Old Testament. Second Samuel 22:26 says, "With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; with a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless."

We are so merciful when it comes to ourselves, and we always stand ready to justify what we have done. That's just part of human nature. But so often, when we see someone else doing the very thing we have done, we become harsh and critical. We are ready to call the lynch mob and string them up. "Do you know what they did?" we accuse.

We forget that in failing to show mercy to others, we are setting the standard by which God will one day judge us. That's why I like to be very merciful. When I stand before God, I want Him to be very merciful to me. Remember James 2:13? "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy." When you stand before God, you will receive the same kind of mercy that you showed to others. If you haven't shown mercy, then He will judge you without mercy. Do you want to face that? Not me! That is why being merciful is so important to me.

We serve a merciful God and, as He plants His nature in us, we become more like Him. We become more merciful.

A Touch of God's Heart

Mercy is a gift of the Spirit. Through the gift of mercy we are given a little touch of the heart of God. God's compassion for the world, His concern for the poor and the needy, becomes our own when He puts this gift in our heart. He allows us to be the instrument of expressing His love and desires to people in distress.

It is always an exciting and thrilling experience to realize that God is using me to accomplish His purposes and His work. I marvel that God would use me to be the instrument of His mercy toward others. And I realize that all this is made possible only through His infinite mercy.

If God has given you the gift of mercy, exercise it with cheerfulness. Realize how privileged you are to be God's instrument to bring His compassion and mercy to others. Let Him fill you with His love so that you, in turn, can shower it on others. And as the years go by, you'll come to appreciate Psalm 103:11 more and more because, no matter how large the universe grows, you'll understand that His mercies are larger still.

"As the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him."