From the Book, Rules For Life: According To Jesus

30. Be Merciful 

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.  

Luke 6:35-36

When’s the last time someone lent money to an enemy—without expecting to be repaid? 

Oh, what a wretch I am, that I do not have this kind of compassion and mercy within me?! Any such grace must come through me from the Holy Spirit. And I pray that it does, when necessary. 

I don’t know about anyone else, but I tend to forget just how merciful, gracious, and loving my God really is. 

Remember, mankind was the enemy of God when He became a man (His enemy). We could all strive constantly to reach such generosity and never come close. His goodness, like His other traits, is infinite. No man can out-give, out-love, or out-do God in any way—and all of His ways are good ways, all of the time.

A merciful execution is one that is quick and virtually painless; showing grace is to not execute the criminal at all. God shows us both. Compassion can be used in place of either mercy or grace and so it broadens the scope of this command (although some versions use mercy here).

However you define it, compassion is an act of pure love. And I see that love is the first part of this commandment. 

Jesus always has a way of cutting through the bull and getting to the heart of the issue (our heart in the issue)—or the condition of our heart in an issue. If one is willing to show compassion to an enemy, then who else would be denied such compassion? See how He tests our hearts in such a way that there is no room for wiggling away from what He is after? The brilliance of Jesus can never be overstated. 

It is this kind of command that truly sets Jesus apart from anyone else in humanity. This is because He, and He alone, never had a corrupt nature to steer Him wrong. Only Jesus would come up with such a concept as this—and live it out before everyone. 

Now the test is upon you. Are you ready, willing, and able to show such compassion to all mankind before you? I believe that I am ready and willing, but I pause at my ability. I feel that I need the helping hand of the Holy Spirit within me to show compassion where my heart screams for something else. 

Once the terrorist is stopped from killing innocents (perhaps children), do we torture him or do we feed him and care for his own wounds? When the trash truck backs into our brand new car, do we lose it, or do we forgive and bless? When the thieves break in and steal our stuff, how should we respond? To ask an old question, “What would Jesus do?”… Live that way—and God will bless you for it.

Previous – Remember Me | Next – Make Disciples

Sections in this study:
Introduction
1: Repent
2: Be Born Again
3: Place God First
4: Love and Serve One Another
5: Live By Faith
6: Forgive Others
7: Remain in Jesus
8: Live Righteously Before Men
9: Avoid Bad Influences
10: Stay On The Narrow Path
11: Do Not Return Evil With Evil
12: Give More Than Is Demanded
13: Love Your Enemies
14: Check Your Motives
15: Pray Simply
16: Do Not Worry
17: Store Up Treasures In Heaven
18: Do Not Be Judgmental
19: Guard what is Sacred
20: Care For Those In Distress
21: Do Not Swear Oaths
22: Watch out for false prophets
23: Exercise Spiritual Power
24: Have Childlike Faith
25: Do Not Exalt Yourself
26: Settle Disputes Quickly
27: Settle Disputes Between Believers
28: Do not Oppose Brethren
29: Remember Me
30: Be Merciful
31: Make Disciples
32: Be Ready
33: Obey Jesus’ Commands
Closing Comments