February 12

BECOMING MERCIFUL ONES
by Ray Prinzing

"With the merciful Thou wilt shew Thyself merciful."                                  (Psalm 18:25).

One of the precious inworkings of His grace in the lives of those whom He separates unto Himself, is that they are becoming His merciful ones. Seems that many have walked with God for years without learning what it means to "have mercy," to become a vessel of mercy through whom His mercy is revealed.  There has been far too much fight in us, a demand for justice according to what we think is justice. 

Jonah received the word of the Lord -- it is a marvelous thing to receive "the Word of the Lord," but that doesn't make us a merciful one.  It was because Jonah rebelled against the mercy, that he first fled unto "Tarshish: for I knew that Thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness."  (Jonah 4:2).  So God had to discipline him in the belly of a great fish, until somewhat subdued he was willing to speak the "Word" which the Lord had given unto him.  Then God had to give him another forceful object lesson with a gourd to teach him to have mercy.  How hard are the lessons we need to teach us also to be merciful. But in due time we shall be perfected in mercy, for He has a work of mercy to be performed through His people.

"Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful.  Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven."  (Luke 6:36-37).  Not the word "forgive," same Greek root used elsewhere as "redemption," meaning TO LOOSE AWAY.  We are groaning within ourselves for the fullness of our redemption, that we might be loosed from the very last vestige of this bondage of vanity.  But what sayest thou to this statement of our Lord, according as thou be forgiven (Loosed from all that presently holds you captive)? The more we learn to be merciful unto others, the more we also shall be able to comprehend His mercy for us.  "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him."  (Psalm 103:11).