Mercy: Our Identity

I like to say that mercy feels the needs of others. In our Christian walk we could describe mercy as a sympathizing spirit (attitude) with saints in distress, weeping with them that weep, suffering with them that suffer, being touched, as their High Priest is, with a feeling of their sorrows and weaknesses. Romans 12:15 says Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep. Jesus has mercy on us because he understands everything that goes on in our lives. This is brought to light in Hebrews 4:15-16. (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Because Jesus has experienced our weaknesses and temptations we can come boldly to the throne of grace and find mercy. Jesus will sympathize with us mercifully because he knows how we feel. Mercy also means to pardon someone. Colossians 3:12-13 says: (12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. We see here that we have to put mercy on. In other words, mercy doesn’t automatically come on us. We have to add it to our personality. Verse 12 says mercy should be associated with the elect of God. Mercy should identify the elect of God. Christians should be the most merciful people on the planet. Mercy enables us to be patient with and forgive others of their faults and trespasses against us. God has extended His mercy to us by forgiving us of our sins and our weaknesses. The mercy seat was the covering of the ark of the covenant. God appeared in a cloud above the mercy seat. God revealed Himself from a position of mercy. God is a merciful and forgiving God and we, the elect of God, should be merciful and forgiving also. Let’s put mercy on and weep with those that weep, suffer with those that suffer, overlook the weakness of others and forgive those that do us wrong. Mercy is a part of our identity. God bless.