Lesson 7 – Blessed Are the Merciful

Matthew 5:7-9 (NIV)
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."

These three attitudes - mercy, purity of heart, and peacemaking – all relate to loving others with the same love given to us without merit in Christ. Those who are blessed in the kingdom not only love God, but make it their practice to give away God's love to others.

Mercy is an attitude we all want when it applies to our own faults, but we hesitate to give it away except when we think it is earned or their heart has had a change of mind. We tend to give mercy only when it is in our best interests. But in Christ's eyes, mercy loves that person who has wronged us, even when their actions have been unlovable.

Pure in heart describes the way we relate to others, not only in our deeds, but also in our words and thoughts. Most believers tend to treat people well, but truth be known, I don't think our thoughts for each other are often so pure. In Christ's definition of purity, even our thoughts toward others reflect God's love. Not only do we practice what we preach, but we think it inwardly as well.

Peacemaking implies going out of the way to restore relationships. When it comes to our friends and family members, most of us are willing to do this, particularly after some time has passed. But what about when the rift is between you and someone you don't know or don't already care for? In Christ's economy, peacemaking speaks of a heart seeking reconciliation even when there is no other basis for coming back together.

Jesus would later tell his disciples that the world would know they were Christians by the love they would show for each other. That's what these "be-attitudes" are all about, shaping our hearts so we can love others. Of course, the world won't be drawn to Christ if we only love other Christians, or those like us in other ways. Instead, the world is looking for a people who are different. They are looking for a people who are willing to love the unlovable.

I have to wonder, is this how our community would describe those of our church? Are we merciful, pure in heart, and seeking to be peacemakers? Or are we just like everyone else, with no hint of the Christ whom we claim to worship?

To receive God's blessings of mercy, to see God, to be identified with Christ, we need the Lord's love in our hearts.