Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5:7
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. Psalms 57:1
In times of crisis …mercy is the Hand of God. Wisdom is knowing to whom and when to extend mercy. Wolves need no mercy as they come to tear apart and devour.
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; Acts 20:29
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Matthew 7:15
Jeremiah 23 also has some harsh words for shepherds who have not handled their flocks well, but in fact used them for their own purposes. The Lord holds leaders to a higher standard of judgment.
So who are we to extend our mercy? Who are we to help?
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27
In the first covenant God told his people this…
If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, Deuteronomy 15:7
The key is obviously the word ‘brother’. Jesus when questioned about who our brother is .. answered them with a parable of the Good Samaritan.
How do we know what to do when faced with real circumstances standing right in front of us? That is the question … who is actually a wolf and who is the one needing mercy and help? Discernment by the Holy Spirit will become so valuable in the near future as it could literally mean your … life and that of your family and community living with you. We are NOT to go by our wisdom or thoughts, but be listening VERY closely to His instructions by the Holy Spirit .. in that moment. If you haven’t learned that skill and ability I highly suggest you ask Him to teach you. But that will mean real world tests and trials so that you can learn how to increase your abilities in that area. Are you ready to learn and be stretched for His purposes?
Prayer: Lord we need your help! Lord teach us by Your Spirit! Open our ears and heart so that we might hear You! Give us Your wisdom and discernment Lord!
Is your heart and mind ready to listen to what He has to say to you?