April 10________________________________________
There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. -James 2:13 (NLT)
WHEN YOU SHOW MERCY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you give mercy to others quickly
The Lord will forgive you easily
There’ll be no mercy to those who are merciless
You will be judged when you don’t grant forgiveness.
When you show mercy, you are loving
When you deny it, you are sinning
Granting forgiveness when others ask it
Is the key to living a life led by Spirit.
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The Lord’s Prayer specifically states that we are to forgive others first before we can ask him for forgiveness. We cannot ask something that we have not given to others. How can we expect to receive something that we have deprived others of? God is a very merciful, faithful and loving God. According to Lamentations, he gives us mercy afresh each morning. We need to live in his grace and when we do, he also expects us to give what we have been given.
James warns us of the judgment we will get when we don’t grant others the mercy that God has generously given us. He also reminds us how he will lavish us with mercy when we do forgive others.
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PRAYER
Lord, remind me to always be quick to forgive and to ask for forgiveness for my own sins.
REFLECTION
Why do you think it is hard for many people to be merciful to others?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com