Lord, help me to show mercy!

Whenever I read this verse, I think of two things – the Lord’s prayer where Jesus taught us to pray for God to forgive us as we forgive others and the principle of seedtime and harvest.

Matthew 6:12 - And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. (NLT)

Genesis 8:22 - As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. (NIV)

Whether we like it or not, one of God’s laws that operate within the Universe we live in is that we reap what we sow.

Galatians 6:7 - Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (NIV)

This can be both good news and bad news. In this instance, it ought to be good news. The trouble is sometimes showing mercy to people is easier said than done. There are two methods we can use to help become merciful.

The first is to ask the Holy Spirit to help us and the second is to remember that in the eyes of God, we all need mercy and forgiveness. I recently read a story about Corrie ten Boom. She was held at a concentration camp during the Second World War. After the war, she gave talks about reconciliation, forgiveness and shared her testimony. At one such talk, she came across a guard who had been part of the group of Nazis who held her captive. This man approached her and began to speak to her. As he was speaking, she realised that she was unable to shake his hand because she had not forgiven him. In that moment, she decided to pray for the Holy Spirit to help her to forgive him. Unfortunately, she found she was still unable to lift her hand. But she prayed again, it was at that point, and in remembering that God had forgiven her that she was able to shake the guard’s hand.

As with so many things, it's easier to write about these things than to do them. But God is faithful and will give us the strength and grace we need to show mercy if we are willing to ask him for help.

Questions for reflection: Am I merciful? What are the things that are preventing me from showing mercy? Have I asked the Lord to help me show others mercy? Have I reflected on the mercy that the Lord and others have shown me?