In Matthew 5:7, our Lord taught, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.' To be merciful is to be compassionate, and full of pity. This truth is foreign outside our Christian heritage, but is reinforced throughout the Word of God.

Job expressed this in 31: 19-21, 'If I have seen anyone perish from lack of clothing, or any poor man without covering, if his heart has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep, if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, when I saw I had help in the gate.' God's Word is so practical. Job qualified for the Lord's blessedness, as indeed he received. We may stick to correct theology, but be negligent concerning the deep needs around us.

David talked of this in Psalm 112:4: ' Unto the upright there arises a light in the darkness; He is gracious, full of compassion and righteous; a good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he will never be forsaken; the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.' God overrules in the dim hours of life, radiating the home or church with His glorious Presence. The shepherd boy becoming king experienced the spiritual prosperity in this beatitude.

A Christian Literature Crusader in Java in 1956 taught the striking truth in Isaiah 58:9-12, startling me as I heard it for the first time. ' If you take away the yoke
( oppression) from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you extend your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, ( that's mercy ) Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday ( the reverse of Calvary pitch darkness ) '. What blessedness! 'And strengthen your bones,' referring to our inner strength.

'You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.' Then the delightful promise, 'Those from among you shall build the old waste places, You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; You shall be called the repairer of the breach; the Restorer of streets to dwell in'. Spiritual richness.
When we claim to keep the sermon of the mount, let's be certain that we show mercy, so qualifying us for immeasurable heavenly enrichment.

God demands that we show mercy. In Micah 6:8, 'He has shown you man what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly; to love mercy; and to walk humbly with your God.' Remarkably, Moses had written similarly in Deuteronomy 10:12. 'And now Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, , to walk in all His ways and to love Him with all your heart and your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes, which I command you this day for your good. 'Herein the truth of our Lord Jesus in the beatitudes is expanded from Moses and Micah. The Holy Spirit is the only author of the bible, which strengthens our faith in HIM.

Paul takes up this theme in Ephesians 4:32 after pleading with us not to 'Grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom we are sealed unto the day of redemption; and letting all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour and evil speaking be put away from us with all malice,' he makes this strong plea, 'Be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.' Who could believe that the callous-hearted murderous Saul could write with such compassion and gentleness? Only God's all-gracious Holy Spirit could create a new life overflowing with mercy and tenderness. Praise to the Lord. You possess the same Holy Spirit!

In Colossians 3:12, Paul reminds us that 'We are the elect of God, holy and beloved; and as such, 'We are to put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.'
Notice mercies are tender, not harsh or rigid, as a lawful insistence; and we must put on or clothe ourselves as a group of athletes in the uniform of this mercy. Our Olympic team prides itself on their national uniforms. How much more must we adorn ourselves with this beautiful attribute of our beloved Lord. Tender mercies!

James, the half brother of our Lord commented in 3:17, 'We are not to boast when we have bitter envy and self-seeking in our hearts. This wisdom is earthly, sensual, demonic. Then the classic counsel, 'The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and hypocrisy.' May our God grant us merciful wisdom, for the increasing element of counselling in family and church life. Some have been too rigid or legalistic previously. Prosperous are the merciful: with practical, special benefit.

Paul tells us 'We are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the spirit of the Lord.' He continues, 'Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.' (2 Corinthians 4:1)
Our generous Lord has given us a transplant of mercy, so that we shall heartily follow our Lord. Salvation is inclusive of every blessing, even mercy.

Paul referred to his dramatic new birth in 1 Timothy 1:15, 'This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. The purpose of his regeneration was 'For this reason I obtained mercy that in me first, Jesus Christ might show all long-suffering as a pattern to those who are going on to believe on Him for everlasting life.' God demonstrated mercy in Paul that he might become an example to each generation. His mercy reached out to us in our restored walk with our beloved Lord.

The writer of Hebrews 4:16 instructed us 'That we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses , but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.' Then the staggering truth, 'Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy and find grace in time of need.' Our risen Lord as High Priest waits our coming to dispense mercy, and pour grace into our needy lives. Spiritually prosperous are the merciful: they shall obtain mercy.