JULY 19 “INTIMACY IN LOVING MERCY”

The word of God says in Lamentations 3:22, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.” This signifies God’s unwavering compassion and love. His mercies are undeserved pardon, forgiveness and kindness. They are new every morning (verse 23). This means God does not ever want us to live without His mercy knowing how much we need it to survive. For us to enjoy His mercy, He chose to have an intimate (close) relationship with us. Loving mercy is therefore accepting this intimate relationship, accepting God’s mercy and extending it to others. God wants us to do likewise – to show mercy to one another.

Loving mercy is adding a sense of intentionality and commitment to showing mercy – always having the desire to forgive others unconditionally and putting that to action. Jesus, in response to Peter’s question about how many times to forgive others, responded, seventy times seven times (Matthew 18:22). He was not literally saying to forgive 490 times, but only teaching about the limitless nature of forgiveness.

Showing mercy, however, goes beyond the act of forgiveness, being compassionate and being kind. It is acting in an atmosphere of a loving personal relationship with one another. This means that we must make every effort not to deliberately hurt or harm those we are expected to have a godly intimate relationship with. There can be no intimacy when we hold grudges or hold one another in unforgiveness. Love mercy and let it triumph over judgment.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Your intimate relationship with us attracts Your mercy. In following Your footsteps, help us to love mercy and to show it in our relationships in Jesus’ name, Amen.