Daily Devotional

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

“Blessed are the merciful,

  for they shall receive mercy.

We must remember, however, that despite the fact that the beatitude states that the merciful will receive mercy; salvation is by grace through faith, and not works.

Matthew 5:7 says, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." In other words, on judgment day when we meet God face to face, the people who will receive mercy from him are people who have been merciful.

So, do we earn his mercy by our mercy? No, an "earned mercy" would be a contradiction. If mercy is earned, it is not mercy; it's a wage. If we get anything good at the judgment, it will be mercy.

When God asks for a record of your mercy at the judgment day, he will not be asking for a time card. You won't say, "Here it is. Eight hours of mercy. Now where's my wage?"

Instead, God will be asking for your medical charts. You will hand them to him in all lowliness and meekness, and there he will read the evidences of how you trusted him as your divine Physician, and how the medicine of his Word and the therapy of his Spirit took effect in your life because you relied on them to heal you of your unmerciful disposition. And when he sees the evidence of your faith and his healing, he will complete your healing and welcome you into the kingdom forever. Therefore, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for your mercy. I deserve nothing but death, but you have given me new life, and for that I will praise you for the rest of my days.