A CURIOUS COMMAND
Jesus delivered a command of mercy to people who were mistreated by Jews and Romans: tax collectors, prostitutes, peasants and fishermen (Luke 6:27-37).
GIVING SHAPE TO MERCY
Mercy is God's undeserved compassion on people who are in a pitiful state. God chose to love us while we were His hell-bound enemies. God gives us mercy in order to pass it on. Do you see your spouse through the eyes of God's mercy? Mercy sweetens marriage.
PASS IT ALONG
Marriage is a place where masks come off (intentionally or not). In seeing our spouse in all sorts of situations we are supposed to become aware of their needs so we can demonstrate God's mercy.
MERCY IN REAL TIME
Mercy transforms our desire to win battles to a desire to represent Christ. Mercy brings Christ into the "crisis" of money conflicts, dinner plans, disheveled items, untimeliness, unmet expectations and much more. We are not just sinners, but the object of people's sin.
MERCY BEFORE THE FACT: PRACTICE KINDNESS
God still relates to us in love in spite of every sinful action and thought He sees in us. His love and kindness to us is meant to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4). God doesn't just show mercy. He is merciful. We are called to continue in the kindness we have received (Romans 11:22). This means we are to continually show mercy and kindness not just when we are sinned against. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). You need to sow mercy into your marriage that that mercy grows continually.
MERCY WHEN UNDER ATTACK: DO UNTO OTHERS
We don't enjoy having sin committed against us so let us not commit sin against our spouse. Ask yourself, "What patters of sin are causing persistent problems in my marriage?" When you're not fighting ask your spouse, "What behavior of mine expresses anger or lack of love for you?"
MERCY AFTER THE FACT: COVER SIN
Small sins cause some of the biggest fires in marriage. Scripture says that we can overlook these offenses (Proverbs 19:11). In overlooking the sin, we don't ignore it or act like it didn't happen, instead we choose to forgive and not bring it up or dwell on it. This is different than letting patterns of sin or egregious sin going unchecked. Nevertheless, there are times when we can cover a multitude of sins with forbearance (1 Peter 4:8). Covering sin with love removes it being an issue.
MERCY DEFEATS OUR TRUE ENEMY
Self-righteousness shows up when people sin against us or we encounter their weaknesses. We all have sin. We all have weaknesses (physical or spiritual). We need God's mercy and we must pass it on. We need to sympathize with others in their sin and weakness. Self-righteous people act like they have no sin or weaknesses. Jesus was tempted and yet without sin. Consequently, He can sympathize with us and offer us help (Hebrew 4:15). Would your spouse say that you sympathize with their weaknesses or that you sit in judgment over them?
MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT
Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7).
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