We are in Chapter 6 of our study book. Chapter Title, “Seeing The Wounds of Our Wounders”. My first thought was I sure want mercy. But, what would that mean? Why would I want mercy so much that I would dig into this study with the same passion that I dip into ice cream. 🍦 It happened when I 👀 at what mercy is not. Do you agree?
Antonyms for Mercy, cruelty, intolerance, meanness, uncompassion
thedailylily.com 
“It happened when I 👀 at what mercy is not. Do you agree?”
Yes, I agree, Sara. Reading those antonyms above paints a sobering picture. And then I went on looking at some scriptures about mercy and read James 2:13: “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others.. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.” Wanting mercy seems like a really worthwhile pursuit.
Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy.
We said that our hunger and thirst after righteousness can only be filled by God for we are not able to obtain it ourself. Along with that is the idea we are given righteousness by God we are to grow in righteousness that is, “being as we should be”. The sad news about being as we should be will not be accomplished by us in this life. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive for it. We are to identify with Paul in this. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” That is to become like Christ.
How are we to be like him? Is this just a lofty ideal we spout?
Now in this Beatitude we are told to be merciful. According to some of the writers I have read, they say, “if we see that our being as we should be before God is ours only by a gift from God, then we should should see the gift given to us is due to God’s great mercy to us.” As we see this then we will not do acts of mercy but we will be merciful, that mercy will be an identifying mark in us, we will have mercy grow in our nature and be part of our nature as it is in God’s. So it won’t be a thing we do, it will be a great part of who we are.
The message of this beatitude is, you have received mercy, you are to give mercy. See Matthew 18:21-35
I have a question on being merciful. What does one do that knows someone (thought to be a friend) that lies about seemly everything all the time? I mean everything. I started spotting little lies here and there and thought, why? I thought medication causing forgetfulness. Just seems beyond a pill.
I dread hearing their voice because I know they are going to lie since it has become their sport. I confront with what I would call compassion. They pass it off as a joke or something as stupid as the lie. OKAY, now what? They pray, talk Christ, give their words they say from God. Hum, just not good. Pg 90 study book, quotes Matthew 5:44 “Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you.” Do, I now classify them as enemy?
Jeepgary quotes, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” That is to become like Christ.”
I have lot of questions?
Sara, you wrote above…”They pass it off as a joke or something as stupid as the lie.” Thinking about what you wrote above and looking for answers in the Wuellner’s book , I see on pg 89 that she talks about fear and anger as sources of abuse and says it can “extend over years or erupt within seconds.” She also says these feelings can “manifest through trivializing, teasing, barbed joking, scorn, etc.” Seems to me lying, like the joking, etc, surely is abuse because it is the opposite of “speaking the truth in love” (Eph 4:15) to someone. If I understand correctly, Wuellner says that if abuse doesn’t arise from wounds, lack of moral awareness, party spirit or powerlessness, then it is probable that it comes from “deliberate expediency, plain desire for power, from straightforward selfishness and self-aggrandizement.” (pg 95)…a “free choice of evil”. She says (pg 96) if this is the case the best thing she can do is “to envision the victimizer alone in the room with Jesus – and leave them there together. Perhaps this is the ultimate intercessory prayer from the mercy seat.”
WOW! Debi, that is truly a WOW! I had read what you shared. I had read it as part of trying to be faithful and read my lesson. But, I didn’t connect the dots to my question. This is a great example of when people share The Word of God in studies like this as we share we see, we feel and we do.
I’m thrilled to forgive them from my vantage point and leave them as author says, “alone in the room with Jesus.” This says to me don’t try to change them anymore, trolley on your way. What a freedom. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
This chapter in our study book 📚 sure has an extra mile of thought this week as Parkland, Fl faced a horrific fatal school shooting leaving family, community and nation at a loss in many ways to find ways to comfort. The shooter, a nineteen year old student, very troubled. I think of just a few months ago he lost his Mother and had already lost his father. His story breaks your heart. Yet, he has taken lives with a gun. As I watched the students struggling with this I was somewhat surprised how well spoken and determined they were to do something positive. They want to change gun laws. They are very vocal in wanting change. The showed great compassion for the families that lost their children. I really did not hear them spent anytime on the shooter. They continue to express their angry in wanting changes in gun laws.
Sorry, in a comment like this it seems there are just not enough words to express our sorrow to these families and community. I am trying to say this chapter has really helped me to think a little differently than I might have. We do need solutions in all areas where we have a wounder.
I’m a lover of books! I’m a lover of quotes from books! I’m a lover of those that express their thoughts in writing in various forms. Yes, blogs, too. I am able to awake, open my computer to my list of online devotions. They just so often speak volumes to me of what I have rattling (like a baby rattle) around in my mind. Then the voice of a writer brings clarity in few words. Mostly, leads me to another book.😍 One such writer showed up this morning as I pondered how to master the Be Happy attitudes in The Beatitudes.
“PEOPLE WHO EXTEND COMPASSION to us are guardians of our soul. John Makransky calls them benefactors, emissaries of love in our lives. These are people who see us, understand us, value us, and celebrate our homecomings. They offer us the inestimable gift of revealing to us the truth of who we are – we are worthy of love even in our shame; we are held with love even when we forget it; our beauty is beheld even when we feel blemished; though our journeys leave us broken and burdened, we are and remain thoroughly beloved.”
– Frank Rogers Jr.
Practicing Compassion
From page 44, Practicing Compassion by Frank Rogers Jr
I even read the bad cover quotes:
“Through rich and moving stories of people from various faiths, Frank Rogers shows ways to incorporate compassion in our daily lives. His interfaith perspective on mercy, kindness, and caring for one another trains us to Pay attention, Understand empathically, Love with connection, Sense the sacredness, and Embody new life “(PULSE).
A truly WOW moment for me!
Thanks for sharing this Sara.