In 1 Peter 2:17 I ready, “Treat everyone you meet with dignity.” (The Message)
The Bible says God expects me to show mercy to everybody. How do I do that? Here are three simple, practical ways to be God’s agent of mercy in the world.
Forgive people when they mess up. “When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won’t give up in despair” (2 Corinthians 2:7 CEV). The normal reaction when somebody hurts me is to want to either get even or write them off. But a merciful person forgives the fallen.
Part of the Lord’s Prayer says, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us” (Luke 11:4 NLT). When I pray this, I’m saying, “God, I want you to forgive me as much as I forgive everybody who’s hurt me.”
Be patient with people’s quirks. We all have our idiosyncrasies and irritating habits. Even myself! When I refuse to get upset over other people’s habits, I am showing mercy.
During the pandemic, while so many people are stuck at home, the most important marriage advice I can give you is Ephesians 4:2: “Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults” (TLB). The first place I need to show mercy is at home.
Show respect to people I disagree with. I don’t have to agree with everyone. But I can disagree with people without being disagreeable. God says, “Treat everyone you meet with dignity” (1 Peter 2:17 The Message). That includes people I disagree with and don’t like. Treat everyone with dignity.
Jesus gets really radical about mercy. In Luke 6:35 he says to love your enemies and do good to them. That starts with laying down your need to be right and to win the argument every time.
Do I want to win the argument, or do I want to win people to Christ? To win people to Christ, choose mercy.
When’s the last time I did something good for an enemy? When’s the last time I did something good for somebody I totally disagree with politically or spiritually? When’s the last time I showed mercy to someone in my home?
God sees when I choose mercy, and he will honor my obedience. It will often be difficult, but it will always be worth it to be merciful, just as God your Father is merciful.
In summary, I’m to treat everyone with dignity. God expects me to show mercy to everybody. I can do that with three simple and practical ways. First, forgive people when they mess up. The normal reaction when somebody hurts me is to want to either get even or write them off. But a merciful person forgives the fallen. Part of the Lord’s Prayer says, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us”. In it I’m saying, “God, I want you to forgive me as much as I forgive everybody who’s hurt me. Secondly, be patient with people’s quirks. Refuse to get upset over other people’s habits. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults”. Lastly, show respect to people I disagree with. I don’t have to agree with everyone. But I can disagree with people without being disagreeable. Treat everyone with dignity. Jesus tells me to love my enemies and do good to them. This starts with laying down my need to be right and to win the argument every time. Do something good for an enemy or something good for somebody I totally disagree with. Show mercy to someone, God sees when I choose mercy, and he will honor my obedience. It will often be difficult, but it will always be worth it to be merciful, just as God my Father is merciful.
Father, I thank you for these reminders today. I ask that with the help of the Holy Spirit in my life, that I incorporate them continuously. Father I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, my future job preparation and leading a small group. I pray these things in your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.
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