Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. – Luke 6:36
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was a college professor and politician from the state of Maine who became a Union Army volunteer during the American Civil War. He attained the rank of brigadier general and was highly respected among the troops and other officers. He became a legend of that war because of historic actions taken at Gettysburg. Author James R. Poplar III recalled that, as soldiers of the Confederacy were marching down to surrender to the Union Army, Chamberlain ordered his men to put down their arms and salute their foes with their swords raised in honor. Poplar says, “A lesser commander would have snubbed the vanquished, which would have made the healing of the wounds of our nation’s most deadly conflict… even harsher.”
Then Poplar asks, “Where are the Joshua Chamberlains of today?” In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses the varied attributes of God that His followers are to emulate. He spends a good deal of time in the midst of the Beatitudes addressing how His followers are to love their enemies, concluding with today’s verse, ”Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
What is Jesus asking you to do? Pastor Jeremy Houck says one thing is clear, “Jesus isn’t trying to legislate our emotions. He isn’t telling us to feel. Jesus doesn’t care about how we feel and that’s not because He doesn’t care about our feelings—He cares deeply. It is, rather, that how we feel about our enemies is irrelevant to how we behave toward our enemies. … Jesus wants to liberate us from the tyranny of our emotions. This is a glorious liberation.”
Being merciful is an action, something you do, not a feeling. Mercy is a response, and this response speaks to others. You can begin by praying for those who may have offended you, those you dislike—your “enemies” of the moment. Then seek to build a bridge where you can. You may not be ready to salute them, as Chamberlain’s soldiers did with their enemies, but you can at least lay down your emotional “bayonets.” Harboring hatred and disdain for others, not only hurts you, but it is totally un-Christlike. As Houk said, “It is soul killing. It’s like choosing a poison for your enemy, then drinking it yourself.” If you belong to Jesus, be all He calls you to be. The Holy Spirit is your Guide.
Today’s Verse: Luke 6:36
Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Luke 6:27-36
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
