How Do The Merciful Obtain Mercy?

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy"calling you to avenge yourself, you're mistaken. If
(Matthew 5:7)."This verse means if you give mercy,you suffer for righteousness' sake, rejoice. If you
you shall receive it," says Anna, age 9. "It reminds mesuffer for some other reason, repent."Mercy means
of the golden rule, 'Do unto others as you wouldsomething that you don't deserve, like if you're in jail
have them do unto you.'" The golden rule is stilland the first day, you get out of jail," says Marcus, 8.
golden, but Jesus went a step further when he"This is mercy."Marcus, let's go one step further.
spoke of loving your enemies. As Christina, 6, says,What if the judge who sentenced you to prison paid
"If someone is bad to you, forgive them."If you'reyour fine? Justice would be served, and you would
skeptical about going out of your way to showbe free to go.That's what happened when God sent
mercy to someone in need, consider the advice ofhis son to pay the penalty for our sins. The way to
psychiatrist Karl Menninger. He said the best way toheaven and fellowship with God is now open, but it's
prevent a nervous breakdown is to find a needynot because God's justice has been compromised by
person you can help. For those of us who have livedhis mercy."Blessed are the forgiving, for they shall
in a society influenced by Christian compassion, it'sgain kindness and gentle treatment," says Billy, 10. I
difficult to imagine the callousness of a paganlike Billy's interpretation because forgiveness, kindness
society."Let there be a law that no deformed childand gentleness are three faces of mercy.While God's
shall be reared," wrote Aristotle in his celebratedgrace toward us is based on his mercy, not ours, it's
book "Politics.""We drown even children, who at birth,also true that the merciful obtain mercy. Although
are weakly and abnormal," wrote Seneca, the RomanGod's gift of eternal life can never be withdrawn,
philosopher and contemporary of Jesus.In a countryChristians who act unmercifully risk cutting
where idol worship is common, I visited a Christianthemselves off from God's blessings of mercy in this
couple who started an orphanage for abandoned andlife and rewards in the life to come.Point to ponder:
abused children. Some of the abused children cameBecause you've received God's mercy, be merciful or
to the orphanage because their parents intentionallygracious to others.Scripture to remember: "Blessed
maimed them so that they could beg moreare the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy"
effectively on the streets.Mercy identifies with the(Matthew 5:7).Question to consider: Does the mercy
needs of others. It's the reverse of selfishness andyou've received from God affect the way you treat
self-centeredness. Kinsey, 11, provides a smallothers?Carey Kinsolving is a syndicated columnist,
example of identifying with the needs of others:producer, author, speaker and website developer. To
"When somebody was out of paper, I gave them asee Carey's Kid TV Interviews and more, visit The
few sheets of paper. Then when I was out ofKids Talk About God website contains free, online
paper, they gave me a few sheets. And that wascontent for children and families. Print free lessons
my way to obtain mercy."The foundation forfrom the "Kids Color Me Bible" and make your own
Christian mercy is the fact that we've been forgivenbook. Watch for free the adventures of an
a debt too large to calculate. For those who have11-year-old girl traveling around the world, visiting
received the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ,missionaries in the Mission Explorers Streaming Video.
there's no room for bitterness or an unforgiving spirit.Print Bible pictures drawn by kids that illustrate
Any wrong we've suffered from others is smallScripture verses. Receive a complimentary, weekly
compared to the debt Jesus paid for us on thee-mail subscription to our Devotional Bible Lessons.
cross.Don't worry about personal injustices. God willBible quotations in this column are from the New King
settle all accounts. "'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,'James Version.
says the Lord" (Romans 12:19). If you think God's