IT’S TIME TO ACT IN LOVE

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

The word “mercy” here is extracted from misericordia, the Greek word for “misery.” The full meaning of this word is: “to take to heart the misery of another, with the intention of giving him comfort and relief.” So being merciful means taking on another person’s hurt!

This is just what our Lord does for us. How many times has Jesus taken on your misery and suffering, giving you comfort, rest and forgiveness in return? How often has He wiped away your tears and spoken a kind word to you when you didn't deserve it? He has done it time after time after time!

How can you not find it in your heart to take on the misery and pain of someone you know is hurting? The Greek word for “kindness” has its roots in these words: “oracle” and “soft touch.” Are you an oracle of hope to your brothers and sisters in Christ, offering them a word of hope from the Lord, with the soft touch of comfort? According to Scripture, all you have to do to be His oracle of love is to represent to others who Jesus is.

The word “compassion” means “being affected, touched by the misery of others, and determining to do something about it.” This doesn’t mean approaching someone in sin and telling him, “I’ve got a word from heaven for you, brother. You’ve got sin in your life!”

If he has sin in his life, he already knows it! And he would probably answer you with Jeremiah’s cry: “Please, don't deal with me in anger, or you’ll reduce me to nothing. I’m already down far enough. Don’t reduce me any further!”

If you have had a revelation of the Lord’s glory, you know what it means to taste His love, mercy and forgiveness. And you are being changed by that glory. Now, Jesus says, take that glory and shine it on the world around you. It is time to act in love, as your Lord has continually done for you!