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| Vol. 13 No. 12 December 2011 | Page 10 |
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| Vol. 13 No. 12 December 2011 | Page 10 |
Adam B. Cozort
Mercy is defined by Webster as: “That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves… It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders.”
Mercy is not a common attribute to be found in the world, nor is it as common as it should be in the church. An individual’s general inclination is to repay a wrong by making sure the offender gets “what he deserves.” Yet, the child of God is required to be a merciful individual. Solomon wrote, “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart” (Proverbs 3:3). The attribute of mercy is one that is required by God if one is to be found faithful.
The importance of mercy is further emphasized by Jesus when He stated, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). In order for us to obtain the forgiveness of God, we must be willing to show mercy (the attribute that leads to forgiveness) in our own lives. Jesus illustrated this with the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18:23-35. He concluded that parable by stating: “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” (vs. 35).
May we understand and implement the attribute of mercy in our lives, enabling us to present the attributes of God in our own lives and to receive the forgiveness so desperately needed from our Creator.
Mark McWhorter
I read a mission report from Africa recently. In some parts of Africa, it is a compliment to tell someone that he or she is getting fat. You are seen as being rich if you are fat. It means you have enough food to feed yourself and gain weight. In America, it would not be considered nice to tell someone that he or she is getting fat. A person would probably consider it an insult. As a follower of God, one should desire to get fat, but the fatness I am talking about is spiritual fatness. If a person is diligent in following God and studying His Word, he is considered becoming fat by God. If a person is busy doing the works of God, he is considered growing fat by God. Consider the following Scriptures.
Study your Bible. Learn all you can from it. Obey God. Do all you can to get fat. Encourage others to get fat, and if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.