Mercy and compassion are two character traits of God that we have opportunity to manifest in our lives. It is wonderful that God encourages us to be like him. He gives us opportunity on a daily basis to accomplish this.
Showing mercy is one thing but having compassion is another. We are to show everyone mercy. The reason we have trouble showing mercy is because we don’t have compassion (feeling for) the individual. This is why we can be merciful to a loved one because we have compassion for them. We see these two characteristics manifested in God. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
This is why God was able to give his son as a sacrifice for humanity. He not only had mercy but he had compassion for humanity. If we begin to have a genuine feeling for one another, then we will be able to be more merciful. Someone who we don’t like, have ill feelings about, don’t care for, we have trouble showing mercy. We need to work on creating a genuine feeling for the individual. We say that is hard. Yes it may be hard in the beginning but with God’s help we can do all things.
Lam. 3:22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
It is wonderful to understand these two attributes of God. The reasons for God’s mercies is because of his compassion (feeling for us). It isn’t just mercy he shows once or compassion he shows once, but it is renewed everyday and he is faithful in renewing it. What a God, full of mercy and compassion. Another attribute of God is faithfulness. If we can be faithful in our showing mercy because we have compassion then we are getting closer to being like him.
Even when God has to discipline us, he does it with mercy and compassion, Lam. 3:32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
God help us to show mercy and compassion to one another. Even when we cause grief or someone causes us grief, we can show mercy and compassion. Several times the scripture said that Jesus was moved by compassion. Jesus had a genuine feeling for people. Manifesting compassion shows a tenderness of the heart. If we have trouble showing compassion, this shows the condition of our heart. We need to check our heart and make sure that we aren’t deceiving ourselves. Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
When we stand before God we won’t be able to point to others and blame them. Jeremiah said God will give to us according to the fruit of our doings, not others doings.
God has so much mercy and compassion for his children that he shows us how we can get mercy for ourselves, Mt 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
The more compassion (feeling for) we have for each other, the easier it is to be merciful. The more merciful we are to others, the more mercy we receive from him. It isn’t just a one time experience but it is to be renewed every day.