JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is Mercy.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said in Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.”

Mercy can be shown in different forms. Both expressions are life-giving in our relationships. One way to express mercy is to reach out with a helping hand to someone in distress. The Good Samaritan extended this kind of mercy to a man that was badly beaten by robbers. He attended to his needs and helped him get back on his feet.

Another way to express mercy is to forgive someone who has wronged us. Jesus equated mercy with forgiveness in one of His parables. Ephesians 4:32 encourages us to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

The demonstration of mercy is a powerful way to represent Christ and to refresh others with hope and encouragement.

Mercy is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com