Blessed Are the Merciful

Now, what's interesting to me is the promise part of this beatitude: “Blessed are the merciful,” the ones who show mercy, “FOR THEY WILL BE SHOWN MERCY.” Jesus kind of gives us a mathematical equation of sorts where mercy received will be equal to mercy given. Essentially Jesus is saying that God is merciful and we should be like that. People who show mercy are acting like God. But also … the people who show mercy to others are the ones who get mercy from God. That's scary to me. And I think if you can be honest with yourself and your ability to be merciful, this should also scare you. You may even join me in hoping that this one isn’t true. Because it also feels like Jesus is saying those who aren't merciful won't experience mercy. If there's any part of you that has come to the right conclusion that you need mercy from God … but you also look at your own life and recognize your lack of mercy … then this verse should terrify you. Because it feels like there is a direct correlation. Mercy received is equal to mercy given. The penalties that you withhold from the people in your life become the measure of penalties that are withheld for you from God. Does Jesus really mean that? Is this how God works?