*LIVING SEEDS DEVOTIONALS* (Life Transforming Words) Wednesday| November 24th| 21 ********************************** *BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL* _Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew_ 5:7(KJV) What does it mean to be merciful? What is the implications of been merciful? "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7). Are those who realize their own spiritual poverty and are merciful to others. They sympathies and have genuine pity on others. They seek to relieve the suffering of others because God has mercy on them in relations to their sin. (Psalm 41:1, Heb 2:17. This is contrary to the legalistically proud who seek to judge, the meek have mercy ( James 2:13). Their mercy will reap mercy from ( Matt. 18:35; Luke 7:27). *Generally, the merciful are those people who are affected by the suffering of others.* *They are affected in a manner that causes them, not only to offer encouragement to one who is experiencing a rough spot in his life, but also to work to lessen his suffering* . The New Unger's Bible Dictionary defines mercy as a form of love determined by the state or condition of its objects. Their state is one of suffering and need, while they may be unworthy or ill deserving. *Mercy is at once the disposition of love respecting such, and the kindly ministry of love for their relief.* " *Mercy is the kind, compassionate treatment of an offender, adversary, prisoner in one's power; compassion where severity is expected, or deserved* . Among its synonyms are leniency, compassion, forgiveness, pity, kindness, tolerance, charity, benevolence, clemency, and forbearance. The primary idea behind mercy is rendering a kindness when harshness or condemnation is expected or even deserved. A merciful person looks beyond the present state of affairs to the potential good that may result from his compassionate handling of the matter. He is willing to forgo the other's punishment, his just deserts, or his own desire for revenge in an attempt to produce good fruit from a bad situation. The nature of God is to be merciful to those He calls. We know that He calls the weak, foolish, and base (I Corinthians 1:26-28), those who are undesirable in society's eyes and guilty of sin in His eyes. He extends great mercy to them, redeeming them from the death penalty and setting them on the path toward eternal life in the Kingdom of God. In doing so, He sets us an example to follow (1peter 2:21)5:7 This should not be the major reason for being kind. It is a promise we can claim whenever we get into a bind. He who enabled us to be kind and generous to others in their need will respond by providing us a helper in our need. Jesus says in Luke 6:38 says, _Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom._ For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. This is very wonderful motivation for those who believe God's Word, but perhaps there is even greater. Being merciful and kind is evidence that God has given us His Spirit, that the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts and is producing fruit( Gal 5:22-26). For proof of the importance of passing on God's kindness expressed in His calling, forgiving, giving us His Spirit, and promising we will receive yet more mercy for being merciful, listen to Jesus' words in Matthew 25:34-36, 40 The grace to be compassionate and to be merciful , receive it *SHALL WE PRAY* : Father, grant me grace for merciful. Amen *MEDITATION* Hebrew 4: 16 *SURE PROPHECY* I decree supernatural help your way today in Jesus name. REMAIN BLESSED Apostle Thomas Adegbile Senior Pastor Revealed Life Christian Centre Akure, Nigeria 08035868741