Jesus told a parable about a man who was mugged and left for dead along the Jericho highway. Two seminary professors came by, saw his condition, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, a man of despised race, came by and had mercy on him. He bandaged his wounds, took him to a nearby hotel and paid for all his medical expenses. Jesus asked the crowd, "Who did the right thing?" Everyone in the audience agreed — the one who showed compassion on him.
Even the most cynical skeptic instinctively knows mercy is good. Even the most liberal, postmodern mind appreciates the rightness of helping someone in need.
Marques Maybin, a former University of Louisville basketball player, was injured in a motorcycle accident and left paralyzed from the waist down. Even sadder is the fact that he was between jobs and had no insurance. A fund was set up to assist him and money has started pouring in, even from people who didn't know him. One hospital has volunteered to treat him for free. It's instinctive within man's heart to help those who hurt.
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One way to influence the world is just by consistently treating people with the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. Rick Atchley preached for us several weeks ago about "Getting Out of the Boat." He's the minister of the Richland Hills Church of Christ in Ft. Worth, Texas. That church has a food pantry that serves a thousand people a month. At Christmas they give away free toys to hundreds. People line up the night before and sleep outside the church building. Rick takes strong stands on Biblical and social issues. But if you ask anyone in a six mile radius about that church they'll say, "Oh, that's the church that helps people."
Jesus said, "By this shall they know that you are my disciples that you have love one for another." It ought to be second nature for individual Christians to be merciful because we have received so much mercy. Ephesians 4:32 reads, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
You've seen those Gatorade commercials where everything is in black and white except the beverage? An exhausted athlete drinks Gatorade and then sweats purple or green sweat. (It sure makes me want to drink it!) We ought to drink so deeply of God's grace and mercy that mercy and compassion just flow out of our pores.
First John 3:17 says: "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" Do you know someone who is struggling financially? Be merciful; use your money to help those who are in need.
Do you know someone who has a special needs child? Volunteer to baby sit once in a while. Give those parents a certificate at a restaurant so they can get away from their responsibility and enjoy a night out.