“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” Luke 6:36 NKJV
One true test of how merciful you can or desire to be is to lead a group of people. It doesn’t matter where; be the person that others answer to.
Leading people brings out qualities you never knew existed. It also reveals weaknesses that have been hidden. This happens because you’re no longer collaborating with people by choice. You’re obligated to make collaboration possible.
We’re all different and can get under our skin sometimes. But the leader must always be the bigger person, doing to others what can rarely be received in a similar capacity.
Jesus Christ, during his earthly ministry, showed mercy like an expert. One scenario that gets me was when Peter denied Him three times, yet Jesus accepted him when they met again after the resurrection. For some of us, that team member would enter our black books.
This means that if Jesus could do it, we can too. If He always sought opportunities to forgive, then we can. But the question is…
How can we constantly show mercy to those we lead, even when we can’t receive it?
I like to see this from a bigger picture. Sometimes when my flesh wants to rule and give that person a piece of my mind and a show of power, the Holy Spirit would ask, “At the end of it all, what do you want to achieve?”
Answering that question puts things into perspective. If I refuse to show mercy, will I get this person to do what needs to be done the way it ought to be done? Probably not.
Big-picture thinking helps us filter how our current actions affect the vision we see. We ask ourselves if the action we desperately want to take will lead us to the expected end.
When we act in the flesh, it never does. The reason is that the flesh is more interested in instant gratification. “How can I satisfy my ego now?” is all it asks. That doesn’t do anyone any good.
The Spirit, on the other hand, starts to show us how patience, mercy, compassion, or care are vital to leading us to that big picture.
Jesus knew what He wanted to achieve through Peter. Instant gratification wasn’t in His nature, so showing mercy was His default response every time.
Let’s make spirit-led actions our default from now on.
“I am empowered to show mercy, even when it’s hard.”
We gain nothing if we only show mercy to those we can obtain mercy from. God has shown us mercy, and now this is our way of giving back.
Our mercy quota may be tested today. If it is, how will we act? Let’s be intentional.
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