Here Are Some Benefits Of Showing Mercy.

John 8:3-5, 7, 10-11 - The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.  "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" …He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." …Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?"  She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."  NASU
 

• You Receive What You Don't Deserve 

This woman had broken the Law of Moses (Deut. 22:22). According to the law, she and the man were to die. They were guilty of breaking the law. The scribes and Pharisees want to know how Jesus is going to handle this situation.
 
Jesus shows the woman MERCY.
 
Let me ask you a question, "If you find yourself in a position where you can demand justice or give mercy what will you do?"
 
I have observed this in my life. People want mercy when they are the lawbreakers and they want justice to be handed down on the lawbreakers when they are not the lawbreakers. 
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• You Receive What You Give 

In Matt 5:7 Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."
 
You may have heard this referred to as "reaping what you have sown" or some say it this way, "what goes around comes around."  If you would someday like to be the recipient of mercy then my advice would be to be a "giver of mercy." Jesus says, "You're blessed when you are merciful."
 
Mercy is an attribute of God and therefore it would be wise for us to make it an attribute of our life.
 
James 2:13 gives us something to think about when he wrote these words for us, "For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment."
 
In other words, there is a day coming when we will probably wish we had been less judgmental and displayed more mercy. 

• You Receive What You Ask For 

Two men were blind and wanted to receive their sight. They heard Jesus was passing by and so they decided to ask for mercy. This is a good lesson for all of us.
 
Some times in order to receive mercy you have to ask for it.
 
Matt 20:30-34 - And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"  And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"  They said to Him, "Lord, we want our eyes to be opened."  Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.   NASU
 
These two men humbled themselves and asked for mercy.
 
Are you in need of mercy? Then you might need to ask for it to receive it.
 
Do you know someone who is in need of mercy? Then you might have to be the giver of mercy to bless someone else's life.
 
Think On These:
 
God still speaks to those who take time to listen.
 
The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word