* A merciful mindset positions us for favor with God.
* If one of my kids shows mercy to their brother or sister, it makes me want to reward them!
* God feels the same toward us.
* James 2:13 - “For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who is not merciful…”
* Jesus shows us this with the woman caught in adultery.
* They wanted judgment, but Jesus taught mercy.
* But He didn’t lower the standard to show it - “Go and sin no more.”
* Two OT prophets - Jonah and Jeremiah.
* Jonah - got mad at God when He showed mercy to Ninevah.
* He wanted justice for the people, not mercy.
* God did not like that.
* Jeremiah - he had to deliver a harsh message to the king who had imprisoned him.
* Look how he responds as he asked his assistant Baruch to carry a message to the king:
* vs 5-7 - ““I am restricted; I am not allowed to go to the Lord’s temple. 6 So you go to the house of the Lord on a day of fasting and read to the people from the scroll the words of the Lord that you wrote as I dictated. Read them to all the people of Judah who come in from their towns. 7 Perhaps they will bring their petition before the Lord and will each turn from their wicked ways, for the anger and wrath pronounced against this people by the Lord are great.”
* Jeremiah shows us the power of a merciful disposition.
* Jeremiah 51:8 - “Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken; wail for her! Take balm for her pain; perhaps she may be healed.”
* We should want our enemies to experience the mercy of God.
* Not because they deserve it, but because God showed us mercy when we didn’t deserve it.
* This disposition will keep us from getting bitter an angry toward others.
* And it will keep us from falling prey to James 2:13!!!!