Debbie's Bible Nuggets

“Be ye Merciful”

This past week the scripture I've been most thankful for is 
Lamentations 3:22-23
“It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning great is thy faithfulness.”

There's been a lot of stuff going on and I've seen inside of me a whole lot of ugliness.  I have handled things lacking kindness, short tempered, and saying things I wish I could take back.

I have learned during these times the importance of quickly confessing and repenting to God and to the one I've hurt.

I prayed the Lord would give me a scripture to help me through.  He gave me Psalm 117:2
“For his merciful kindness is great toward us; and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.  Praise ye the Lord.”

The first thing that jumped out at me is “the truth of the Lord endureth for ever” His character, His personality, His love never changes.
The second part is “merciful kindness”.... compassionate treatment of those in distress when it is within one's power to punish or harm them.

I firmly believe we cannot give to others what we have not received ourselves or what we don't fully understand.

I really believe the Lord led me to that scripture in Psalm 117 to show me in spite of how awful I was being He did not change his love for me and he showed me mercy.

This did not mean all was ok with my attitude.

Luke 6:36
“Be ye therefore merciful as your Father also is merciful.”

Now it was my turn to extend what I had received… Mercy.  I would love to say all my feelings instantly changed and that I handled everything perfectly… I did not.  I did however take that next step and apologize.

These last few months have very much felt like a time of bringing to the surface things in my life that have yet become what the Lord wants them to be.

Job 23:10
“But he knoweth the way that I take.  When he hath tried me I shall come forth as gold.”

This process is not fun, it's been quite painful at times.  I've had some successes and some failures through it.  But I no longer run and hide ashamed… I no longer avoid taking it to the Lord even when it's the 10th failure within 5 minutes.

Hebrews 4:16
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

When I'm not who I should be He changes not… He welcomes me back and shows me mercy.

Micah 6:8
“He hath shewed thee O man what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.”

Matthew 5:7
“Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.”

He shows His mercy toward us so we in turn will be merciful.