Reflecting God’s Mercy

In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. Matthew chapter 7 verse 12. Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Reflecting God's mercy was written in red by Wynn Collier. Matthew chapter 7 verses 7 to 12. Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find.

Knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him? So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. For this sums up the law and the prophets.

Reflecting God's mercy. A Finnish soldier in a three month winter war with Russia lay wounded on the battlefield. A Russian soldier walked his way pointing his rifle. The Finn was certain he'd met his end. However, the Russian handed him a medic kit, then kept moving. Remarkably, the Finn later found himself in a similar situation. Only the roles were reversed.

A Russian soldier lay wounded and helpless on the battlefield. The Finn handed him medical supplies and walked on. Jesus gave us a central guiding principle for our lives. In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. Matthew 7 12. Can you imagine how different our world would be if believers kept this one simple principle?

Can we calculate how much oppression would end if we collectively obeyed Jesus' wisdom? If only as he guides us, we would give others the same compassion and mercy we hope to receive ourselves. As we give good gifts to others, we reflect the heart of our Father in heaven who gives good gifts to those he loves. It's vital that we see others as not merely enemies or strangers or people with whom we compete for resources or opportunities. Instead, we should see their need for mercy and kindness just as we need it.

And as we do, our posture and perspective will change. Then as God provides, we can freely offer them the love he's freely offered to us. Let's pray. Dear God, help us reflect your deep mercy and your wide love in all the ways that we treat others. In Jesus' name, Amen. As you go about your day, reflect on these questions. Why is it vital to treat others the way you'd like to be treated? How can Jesus help you?