“And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27 (ESV)

Being merciful to someone is the most Christlike attitude we can express.

We are living testaments of God’s mercy. We have come this far because His mercy was extended to us through others. God commands us to be merciful—it is not a request but a divine instruction. Scripture says that God will be merciful to those who show mercy.

At times, we withhold compassion or hesitate to show mercy to others. We can even become biased based on race, community, or social status.

The Bible records the parable of a man who was robbed, beaten, stripped, and left half-dead by the roadside. A priest saw him but chose to walk on the other side. A Levite did the same. These two men—considered mediators between God and man, and well-versed in the law—failed to demonstrate the very essence of that law: love and mercy.

Then came a Samaritan—a man despised and rejected by the so-called people of God. Yet he demonstrated what true mercy looks like. He poured wine and oil on the man’s wounds, lifted him onto his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. He even paid the innkeeper and promised to return to cover any additional expenses.

Jesus is often referred to as the Good Samaritan. Like the Samaritan, Jesus came to rescue the broken and abandoned. The Samaritan didn’t know the man he helped, and he expected nothing in return. All he had was compassion in his eyes and the love of God in his heart.

The Bible describes him as good because he showed mercy to someone in need, regardless of their background—Jew or Gentile. Mercy sees no boundaries; it flows from a heart aligned with God.

Scripture reminds us in Galatians 6:10, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Keep your eyes open for opportunities to help rather than waiting for someone to ask.

Make yourself approachable, so others feel comfortable sharing their needs.

Being judgmental about another’s lack only hinders the flow of God’s love.

As Christians, we are called to comfort, support, and uplift. Step out of your comfort zone. Visit someone. Share a meal. Send a text, a phone call, a letter, or even a small card. These simple gestures reflect God’s compassion.

Let us not be selfish—receiving mercy from God but refusing to extend it to others. The day God withholds His mercy, we will realize how deeply we have taken His kindness for granted.

Even if we claim to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind, but lack compassion, our relationship with Him remains incomplete.

Be generous in kindness and limitless in compassion, for eternity remembers acts of mercy.

You cannot call yourself a follower of Jesus Christ and withhold compassion from others—that would be the height of hypocrisy.

Kindness will never give up on you; it will speak for you even in your absence.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unending mercy and boundless compassion. Remove every trace of selfishness and judgment from within me. Teach me to see others through Your eyes and to love beyond my comfort zone. May my words and actions be vessels of Your mercy wherever I go. In Jesus’ name, Amen.