Cross 

Words 

Monthly Newslettel" of Cross Ev. Lnthel"an Church 
	July 2010 	Vol1UlleIO,Issne7 

How can I be happy if I think only of others? 

"Blessed are the merciful." 
Matthew 5:7 

	
Mercy is certainly 
something of which we 
like to be on the 
receiving end. A police 
officer pulls you over. 
You know you rolled 
through that stop sign. 
Will he show mercy 
and not give you a 
ticket? You show up 
just a few minutes late 
for work. It doesn't 
matter that you think 
you have a good 
reason-you are late. Will your boss show you 
mercy? You forgot your anniversary! There is no 
good excuse. Will your spouse show you mercy? 

If I like to be onthe receiving end so much, why is 
it that I often struggle to be merciful to others? Why 
do I have a hard time forgiving my loved ones when 
I want them to be forgiving toward me? Why is that 
I have such a hard time showing kindness to my 
coworkers or neighbors? Is it often because I feel 
that if I show kindness and mercy to others, it will 
be a sacrifice for me? Will showing mercy to others 
rob me of opportunities for myself and take away 
my happiness? 

What is mercy really all about? For the answer we 
need look no further than God. He shows us what 
real mercy is. God looked at sinful people-a 
people that could offer him nothing, a people 
helpless to help themselves-and he showed mercy. 

In love and mercy that astounds us, he sent his Son 
Jesus to be our Savior. Jesus was perfect where we 
could never be. Jesus paid for the sins we could 
never pay for. Jesus lived, died, and rose again for 
us so we could live forever in heaven-a gift of 
mercy! 

The opportunities that God places before us in our 
lives to show mercy and kindness to other people 
can serve as constant reminders of the mercy that 
God has shown to us, a mercy we certainly didn't 
deserve. It is God's mercy for us that empowers us 
to be merciful to others and to even find happiness 
in showing kindness and love to other people. 

Jesus said, "Blessed (happy) are the merciful. " 
Then he goes on with a promise, "For they will be 
shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7). As we show mercy 
to others, we will also be on the receiving end of 
mercy!