Matthew 5:7

Mercy is choosing to be kind to someone who hasn't earned it. That sounds simple, but it goes against everything in us. When someone wrongs us, our instinct is to keep score, hold a grudge, or wait for them to apologize first. Jesus flips that around and asks us to give away the very thing we've received from God.

So what does this look like today? Maybe it's the coworker who threw you under the bus, the family member who keeps saying the same hurtful thing, or the friend who never called back. Mercy might look like a soft answer instead of a sharp one, or choosing not to bring up an old wound for the tenth time.

Be careful not to confuse mercy with pretending. You don't have to act like nothing happened or put yourself in harm's way. Mercy simply means releasing the debt and trusting God to handle the justice part. Honestly, that release frees you more than it frees them.

And notice the promise hidden in these words: the mercy you give away comes back to you. You will need mercy this week, probably more than once. The person who practices giving it learns to recognize it and receive it when it's their turn to be on the receiving end.

Dear Lord, You have been so merciful to me, even when I didn't deserve it. Help me pass that mercy on today to the person who's hardest to love. Soften my heart, and remind me how much I've been forgiven. Amen.