Showing forgiveness...

I did a couple different devotions today and BOTH of them used this verse - Matthew 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Think about that verse - IF we are merciful to others, THEN we shall be given mercy. Something else like this is in the Lord's Prayer - "forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" - forgive OUR debts just like we forgive the debts of OTHERS. I think about this a lot when I just like to be mad sometime (stupid probably but...) - I will be forgiven the same way I forgive others! Wow! I need to be compassionate, forgiving, and merciful just like Jesus was and is!

One of the devotions also had the phrase "Forgiveness is giving love when there is not reason to..." I found this picture that really made me think about that.

(In case you can't read this, it says "Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that crushed it".)

Read below the lyrics to the song "Everyone Needs Compassion"

EVERYONE NEEDS COMPASSION
Love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The Hope of nations
Saviour
He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever
Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender
Shine your light and
Let the whole world see
We’re singing
For the glory of the risen King

Reuben Morgan and Ben Fielding© 2006 Reuben Morgan and Ben Fielding/HillsongPublishing/kingswaysongs.com

Be a merciful blessing to someone today!