Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Someone once said that evangelism is equivalent to "a beggar telling other beggars where to find bread."

Wow! How true that is. If we fail to remember that, how soon the religious spirit begins to attack us.

At the base of the religious spirit is pride. Other wrong spirits that builds on this evil foundation are self-righteous, judgemental and critical spirits. The spirits of accusation and condemnation also follow fast. Then, we go into bondage and spiritual blindness.

Mercy and forgivenss is God's character. The Word mercy in Matthew 6:7 tramslates as compassion.

When Jesus walked on the earth, He was always full of compassion for sinners. If He eyed anyone, even the Pharisees, he had only eyes of compassion for them.

Only God is able to judge anyone accurately. But now, is the time for mercy to trumphs over judgement. So James repeats Matthew 5:7 in other words:

[James 2:13 ASV] For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.

[James 2:13 NIV] ...because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

We may discern some...by his grace. And, surely, we must discern by the grace of God, with a character and attitude growing in LOVE, and the other fruits of the Spirit--patience. goodness, kindness....

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says: If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Mercy or compassion for others can only be obtained via a broken spirit and a contrite heart. God will work in our lifes to bring a deep realization of how sinful and in need of His mercy and compassion we ourselves are. This conviction brings with it a brokenness and godly sorrow that is possible only because we see how good and holy God is and how desperately wicked we ourselves are:

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret..." (2 Corinthians 7:10)

The more we experience this godly sorrow for our own sins, the more we will be able to feel compassion for our fellow brothers and sisters who also need God's mercy and grace. Truly, we are blessed when we are merciful, for we will obtain more mercy. But a prideful heart will think it has no need of mercy.

Only God can judge and He does so with so much grace:

For this is what the high and lofty One says--
He who lives forever, Whose name is holy:
"I live in a high and holy place,
but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.

I will not accuse forever,
nor will I always be angry,
for then the spirit of man would grow faint before Me--
the breath of man that I have created.

I was enraged by his sinful greed;
I punished him, and hid My face in anger,
yet he kept on in his willful ways.

I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will guide him and restore comfort to him,
creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel.
Peace, peace, to those far and near,"
says the LORD. "And I will heal them."
(Isaiah 57:15-19)

HOW GRACIOUS AND COMPASSIONATE OUR GOD IS!!! MAY WE RECEIVE HIS MERCY SO WE WILL KNOW WHAT MERCY IS. AND MAY WE KNOW HOW TO BE MERCIFUL, SO THAT WE MAY OBTAIN HIS MERCY.