Devotional for September 22, 2010

Blessed are the Merciful

All of us have had to carry heavy circumstances that weigh us down, and we needed something to lift the burden off our shoulders.  We need mercy.  Mercy reduces, removes or relieves someone’s distress.  It is simply compassion in action.

The Bible says in Ephesians 2:4, God is rich in mercy.  In other words, God is rich in blessing us with divine favor and compassion, releasing us from distress, discouragement, brokenness, pain and problems.  Mercy is in fact God’s reaction to our misery.

Mercy is asking God to not let us bear the full weight of our burdens.  Everyone needs mercy.  Lamentations 3 states that God’s mercies are new every morning.  Every day you wake up, you wake up to mercy.  You got up today with new life, and guess what?  New life means new opportunities.  That’s another day and a new opportunity to praise Him.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:1-12

Dr. Tony Evans