Think Mercifully

Friday, August 22, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-the knowledge of Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Fill my consciousness constantly and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: Jeremiah 15:19 ESV

Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.” 

Verse of the day: Romans 8:32

32 “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

Daily reading: Psalm 110-112 1 Corinthians 5 

Think Mercifully

Jesus tells us to love our enemies but He also talks about other relationships. So here is short list to remind us.

>Jesus calls these our ‘enemies’-those who want to see us fail. Matthew 5:44- “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”; Luke 6:27“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you”; Luke 6:35 “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

People we just don’t like. Jesus says be merciful. Don’t base your treatment of them on what you think they deserve but on His mercy.

Matt. 5:7- “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy”. ; Luke 18:33- “Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?”; Luke 10:37- “The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him. Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Some folks have offended us or we have offended them and the relationship is cold or non-existent. Jesus says to attempt reconciliation with them.

Matthew 5:23–26 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way...”

Or, we simply must forgive them. Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Enemies to the believers in Christ are an everyday reality. Jesus said, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you.”(John 15:20)

But in Christ’s mercy, we are to love them all and be merciful. This is a hard one for me, I must admit but with God, it is possible and with our obedience-completely doable.

Tell God that this is hard for you and to change your heart so you can show His mercy.

...because He loves us, He will do it…

Father in Heaven,

Your name is all mercy and worthy of all praise. Your kingdom come and Your will be mine. Give me today what I need to do Your will. Forgive me for harboring judgment. Lead me away from merciless thinking.

Merciful and good Father,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen