Micah 6:8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good and what is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
My Thoughts
Micah was saying look people it is easy... don't make it hard!! Love people! Love God! Listen to God, walk with God... be humble enough to do what God ask. Love mercy!
I looked up mercy so I would know exactly....I thought I knew...but I wanted to be sure I didn't miss a thing.
Mercy is defined as
1. compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.
2. the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing
3. the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, especially to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.
4. an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.
5. something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.
God does not ask us to do anything he does not do for us! God gives us mercy all the time. God ask us to have mercy for others. God does not say love your neighbors, your enemies if they deserve it... God says love your neighbors, your enemies no matter, have mercy on them!
The definition of mercy seems like something that could be so hard to do in some circumstances...but if you think about it... isn't this how we want others to treat us? Matthew 7:12 tells us to treat others the way we want to be treated. We all, each and every one of us want mercy.
God calls us to love, to love each other all the time...not when we deserve it. Not when somebody else deserves it... but all the time...maybe especially when someone doesn't seem to deserve it. If we love others, each and every one of us, the way we wanted to be loved... no one, not one single person would be in need in this world. Who will you love today? Who will you show mercy to? Mercy has the ability to change the world... mercy is loving others, being kind to others always and in all circumstances.
Mercy is not a feeling we have... it is an act that we do. When we show mercy good feelings will follow... we don't need to wait on the feeling we need to do what is right, we need to do what God ask of us. God does not say "feel mercy," "feel love." God says to have mercy and show love. When we do what God ask of us first..the good feelings will follow.
Today when you are out doing your last minute Christmas shopping and the sales clerk is tired and grumpy..show mercy... smile at them, tell them to have a wonderful day! If the waiter is not as kind as you think they should be, or forgets to fill your tea glass..leave a good tip anyway. When we have mercy on somebody that is having a bad day it changes their day...then instead of them being not so nice to the next person they feel better. Our love and mercy are like the ripples of peddles dropped in the water.... they go on forever, reaching out a little further every time. Mercy and love make a huge difference in the world. Mercy and love have the power to change the world because they comes from the grace of God. Our part, and we always have a part, is to let God work through us giving His mercy and love to each and every person we meet.
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