DRAWING NEAR
April 14
Following Christ's Example
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy" (Matt.
5:7).
Mercy is not a human attribute. It is God's gift to those who seek
Him. Psalm 103:11 says, "As the heavens are high above the earth, so
great is his mercy toward them that fear him" (KJV).
The verb form of "merciful" appears many times in Scripture and means
"to have mercy on," "aid the afflicted," "give help to the wretched,"
or "rescue the miserable." In general it refers to anything you do to
benefit someone in need. The noun form is used only twice: here in
Matthew 5:7 and in Hebrews 2:17, which reads, "[Christ] had to be
made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful
and faithful high priest." Christ Himself is both the source and
illustration of mercy.
Christ modeled mercy throughout His earthly ministry. He healed the
sick and enabled the crippled to walk. He gave sight to the blind,
hearing to the deaf, and speech to the mute. His redeeming love
embraced sinners of all kinds. He wept with those in sorrow and
comforted the lonely. He embraced little children and the elderly
alike. His mercy was compassion in action!
Despite His abundant mercy, Jesus received no mercy from His enemies.
They hated Him without cause, accused Him falsely, beat Him, nailed
Him to a cross, spat upon Him, and cursed Him. Even then He sought
mercy for them, praying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know
what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).
Some have paraphrased Matthew 5:7 to say that if you show mercy to
others, they will show mercy to you. Now that might happen in some
isolated incidences, but in this jaded world that's not often the
case--as Jesus' life clearly demonstrates. Many Christians have
incurred slander, rebuke, lawsuits, and even death for their noble
efforts. Jesus didn't guarantee merciful treatment from others. His
emphasis was that God shows mercy toward those who show mercy to
others.
Don't ever be reluctant to show mercy to others--even when they
misunderstand or mistreat you. God will use your kindness for His
glory and reward you accordingly.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Praise Jesus for being willing to suffer death that you might
receive mercy. Is there someone you might show mercy to today
in some tangible way?
For Further Study:
Read John 5:1-18.
How did Christ demonstrate mercy to the sick man? How did the
Jewish religious leaders react?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
John 5:1-18(NKJV)
5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is
called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame,
paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred
up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of
the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight
years.
6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been
in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be
made well?"
7 The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the
pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another
steps down before me."
8 Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."
9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and
walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath;
it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."
11 He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your
bed and walk.'"
12 Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up
your bed and walk'?"
13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had
withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See,
you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon
you."
15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made
him well.
16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill
Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now,
and I have been working."
18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He
not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father,
making Himself equal with God.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
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me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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