ADAR 14
A Hand of Mercy
“How blessed are those who
show mercy! for they will be shown mercy.” (Mat 5:7
CJB)
Some years ago, a young friend
of ours felt an ‘urgent need’ to stop and pick up a hitchhiker, while on her
delivery route in a town about 100 miles away from her home terminal. After arguing with herself for several miles,
she turned her truck around, and went back to where the older black man was
still standing by the side of the highway.
The two of them had a conversation for several minutes, after which
Louis was invited to ride along for the remainder of her route.
It turned out that Louis was a mature believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, spending his time traveling from coast to coast, ministering as the Creator would direct him to. Most of the people Louis reached were fellow ‘thumb-travelers’, bums (as some people would class them), and the homeless, destitute people that make up a segment of our society many of us tend to ignore. Louis did attend our congregation while sojourning in our town and was a blessing to all. Where he came from, what his background was, and where he was heading was not known; what was obvious was the love for our Creator that Louis had, along with a love and compassion for his fellow man. Mercy flowed out of Louis; he had a gentle, kind spirit, and a burden for ‘the forgotten people’ that was evident.
One of the Hebrew words translated
as ‘merciful’ is the word chânan (Strong’s
H2603) and is a vivid and colorful word.
Besides meaning ‘merciful’, it means to show great favor, to be gracious,
kind, and gentle. Mercy is always action; we cannot look upon
someone in need, in misery, lonely, and in pain, and say that we love Yahweh,
that we belong to Him, and then do nothing to alleviate that person’s need (see
“For I was hungry and you gave me
food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and
you made me your guest, I needed clothes and you provided them, I was sick and
you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me ... Yes! I tell you that
whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers
of mine, you did them for me!” (Mat 25:35, 36, 40 CJB)
“For the judgment is without compassion to the one who has shown no compassion. And compassion boasts over judgment.” (Jam 2:13 ISR)
Father, I am asking for Your help, to help me always
remember the love You have shed abroad in my heart through the Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit. Help me to remember that if it were not for You, my El Rachum, my Elohim of compassion, I too would be hitch-hiking
across the highway of life, never knowing where my next ride would come from,
or even where I would end up. Help me to
show mercy, help me to remember that through Your mercies that are new to me every morning, I can extend that
hand of mercy to others around me. In
the Name and authority of my Messiah, Yeshua of Nazareth, I pray …
©2022
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