Show Mercy

We desire to be a people who show the love and kindness we’ve received from Jesus Christ to a world looking for grace (Micah 6:8; Luke 6:36). The Old Testament concept for grace was to be a merciful person. It has also been defined as loving-kindness. The Prophet Micah tells us to love mercy — this means we are a people on tilt when it comes to being compassionate, loving, gracious…merciful.

Resources

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

By Bryan Stevenson

Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition

By Christine D. Pohl

The Cross and the Lynching Tree

By James H. Cone

Putting it into practice

Learn more about getting involved in Christ City’s local mercy and justice initiatives.
Read this blog post on showing mercy.

In Ephesians 2:4-5 Paul tells us that “because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” This means you and I are continuous recipients of God’s mercy. Instead of being punished for our selfish and harmful actions God mercifully and lovingly gives us grace through Jesus. How can this understanding that God wants to forgive and bless you because he loves you rather than harm or punish you cause you to think differently about how God sees you?

If you are seen and cared for in this way by God, might mercy be the most righteous and just response you could give to those around you? Why or why not?

Read Hosea 6:6. The prophet says that God isn’t looking for sacrifices and burnt offerings, which were ways of making sure you were personally in good standing with God. Instead, Hosea tells us that God desires mercy. Think about your own life. Are there "sacrifices” and “burnt offerings” you keep offering to God that could instead become acts of mercy to your friends, coworkers, family and those in need? How can you become less religious (doing things to help you feel right before God) and instead act merciful (treating others with the loving kindness God offers us)?

Ways to practice mercy:

Ask for forgiveness and give forgiveness generously whenever you can do so honestly.
When considering political issues think about how decisions made will affect people in a lower socio economic class than you.
Purchase MATA passes for neighbors without accessible transportation.
Put together care packages to keep in the car for vulnerable people in need.
Seek to understand more about the causes of poverty, other religions and other cultures to grow in empathy.