Blessed? Part 2

The Merciful

21^st April 2012

OK, back to the Sermon on the Mount. Four weeks ago, I started writing about these verses:

Matthew 5v3-10
³ "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Then, I got as far as verse 6. Now let's continue.

Matthew 5v7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

When someone sins against us, we can experience a deep-seated desire to sin right back at them, to make them pay. We feel that they should be treated as they deserve; they've sinned against us, so they deserve punishment, so they should be punished.

But if we're aware of how much sin we've committed, and if we know that God has forgiven us, and erased the record of our sin for all eternity, then surely we should forgive those who sin against us. A real Christian knows how much he has been forgiven, and how little he deserves to be forgiven. And, when we are sinned against, we know that it's nothing compared to the totality of the sin we've committed against God and other people.

We give thanks every day (I hope) that we're not treated as we deserve. So why should we expect other sinners to be treated as they deserve? As Hamlet said, "treat all men as they deserve and who will escape whipping?"

A true Christian will not retaliate, because he knows he doesn't deserve protection. He won't fight back, because he knows he deserves condemnation. He won't refuse to forgive, because he knows he's been forgiven. He'll be merciful, because God has been merciful to him.

The mercy of Christ was to die on the cross for those who sinned against Him. Not merely to avoid fighting back, but to give everything He had for those who nailed Him there. And as he hung there, he prayed "Father, forgive them".

If we're poor in spirit, knowing that we deserve nothing from God; if we mourn for our sinfulness; if we submit meekly to God and choose to follow Him wherever He takes us; if we hunger and thirst for righteousness, hating sin - especially our own; and if we experience God's forgiveness through faith in Jesus's atoning sacrifice, which cleanses us of our sin, imputes to us God's righteousness, and begins the work of sanctification within us; then we will be eternally grateful to God. And we will seek to forgive others, as Christ has forgiven us.

They, like us, are sinners who need forgiveness and help.

And it is the merciful who will be shown mercy. This works both ways; if we really know God's mercy we will show mercy to others, and if we show mercy to others, then God will show mercy to us.

But how much does a Christian lose if, having experienced the forgiveness of God for all our sins, we refuse to forgive others?

Matthew 6:9-15
"This, then, is how you should pray:
'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

I want the fulness of God's blessing in my life. And I'm sure you do in yours. For Jesus's sake, I beg you, don't cut yourself off from God's best by refusing to forgive someone who has sinned against you.

I don't know what you've had to endure. Some of us have had terrible sins committed against us. But to refuse to forgive is to imprison ourselves in a life full of pain. Forgiveness is the only key that can unlock that prison. And, when you forgive, you set yourself free as well as the other person.

And you become a little bit more like Jesus.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.