Mercy

“To get inside someone’s skin until we can see things with his eyes, think things with his mind,
and feel things with his feelings: to move in and act on behalf of those who are hurting.” William Barclay

Where does mercy come from?
What is a merciful person like?
The Great Divide Matthew 18:21-35
Good Samaritan Luke 10:29-37
Notion: Mercy sees distress.
Emotion: Mercy has a heart of pity.
Motion: Mercy makes an effort to help.
Devotion: Mercy aids in spite of enmity.
Is there ever a conflict between mercy and justice?
Applications:
Can a Christian be consistently merciful and yet be a parent who disciplines a child for disobedience
instead of turning the other cheek to the child’s insolence?
Can a Christian be consistently merciful and yet be an employer who pays good wages for good work
but dismisses irresponsible employees?
Can a Christian be consistently merciful and yet be a legislator who enacts laws that give stiff penalties
for drunk driving and child abuse?
Can a Christian be consistently merciful and yet be a part of a church that follows the Biblical mandate for church discipline and withdraws fellowship from a member for non-forsaken, public sin?
What do we receive for giving mercy?

We get back both negative and positive attitudes and behaviors. Matthew 7:1-2
What about those who show mercy, but receive the opposite in return? Luke 6:36-38