Day 4-"Help me be compassionate."-Matthew5:7

"Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy."-Matthew 5:7 (kjv)

blessed-fortunate, well-off, happy, happier
merciful-compassionate=sympathetic feeling; pity
obtain-specifically by divine grace, receive
mercy-have compassion(pity on) human or divine, especially active; tender mercy

In short, you reap what you sow. (Gal.6:7-9) Or you get back what you put put...the world calls this Karma...kinda like what I studied on day 2. For me, I don't believe that having mercy on someone or being merciful is a choice but more like a duty or responsibility to Christ:"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."(Romans 5:8) That was a priceless act of mercy that humbles me to the core...if you knew me before I knew the Lord, you can see why. Who am I to withhold mercy towards those He died for considering all the sins I committed? Not only that, but I believe Jesus is saying that if one behaves merciful, one will receive mercy....by Him and/or by another person. Until I can walk on water, I will always fall short (Rom. 3:23) & need mercy again and again & the promise is that I will be fortunate, happy, & happier I am merciful. WOW; I just was just led to Luke 6:36 (a confirmation of what God spoke to me in Matthew) "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." Funny being led here after saying all you just read...I love when God does that! (fyi :-) )Jesus always said that we should follow Him. Being that He was merciful, in following Him (doing as He did) we SHOULD be. What I love is that following Him comes promises of blessings. Like when my kids obey a command, they receive a reward! Same with the Lord! Praise God we get more than just a sticker or a lollipop! I just came across Proverbs 3:3-"Let not mercy & truth forsake thee; bind them upon they neck; write them upon the table of thy heart." I would say," Tattoo MERCY in your heart." Let it become a part of you like a tattoo that can be seen and that is always a part of you!-At least that is the analogy God is given me considering I do have 7 tattoos. LOL. But for real, I think Proverbs is saying that we don't exercise mercy & make it a part our nature, we are dimming the Light of Christ in us...others cannot see Christ as well through us. When we show that kind of mercy, that act has the power to not only bless us but it draws or reveals Christ to whom the person it was shown....especially if, like me, they didn't deserve it...none of us did but it was so powerful that it has saved millions and counting. (Lam.3:23 & Titus 3:5) The formula:mercy=blessings=mercy obtained on you.

My Prayer-"Dear Lord, thank you for your compassion towards me. Without that great mercy, I'd probably be dead, still in the streets and on drugs, in prison, & miserable. Your pity saved me. Let me have so great a mercy upon others that they see you & not me. Make it a part of my character so that when I need it, I'll have obtained it. Thank you again. Help me to be compassionate & sympathetic to those less fortunate as well as to those who are lost or have done me wrong. In Jesus' name, AMEN.