Practical compassion the way to assurance....

Matthew 5:7

7 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Have you ever wondered what was standing in the way of the assurance that you were meeting your needs God’s way? That is to say, the assurance that we have received from God that which we do not deserve because of any self-righteousness on our part? Perhaps it’s because we have accepted Jesus as our Saviour but not as our Lord. We are all willing to receive forgiveness of God and others but we struggle with forgiving others. We look to our own lives and the ways we need others to help us live life to the full; but do we become that ‘other person’ in someone else’s life? We cry out for mercy that is to have our needs met when we cannot meet them ourselves but do we pass by on the other side when others cry for mercy. Mercy is not forgiveness. Mercy is the compassionate action to relieve the distress of another despite their state of forgiveness not because of it. Mercy is the way power is exercised in the covenant community of disciples. We know we need mercy; relief from the misery of individualism and its avarice but do we practice mercy; do we meet the needs of others unconditionally? Discipleship is not a private club. If we need assurance that we are at peace with God and His creation we must offer practical compassion, forgiveness and the opportunity of holistic wellbeing to others to receive it ourselves. The practice of practical compassion is a fundamental human need for all of us if we are to live in the Kingdom inaugurated by Jesus.