Love Shows Mercy, Luke 10:29-37

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

     Love shows mercy. This whole story demonstrates that in our vain attempts to keep the law and to follow rules and regulations, all that comes out from it is coldness and self-righteousness. But when we love, we end up showing mercy and putting ourselves aside for others. The priest and the Levite would have been worried about becoming ceremonially unclean in helping the wounded man. They probably were so absorbed in what would affect them that they failed to see a human life in need.

     Sometimes we can become so absorbed in what affects us and how things are turning out in our lives that we miss the more important issues: People. God loves people, and so ought we. Jesus did not think about how much the nails would hurt Him as He was pinned to the cross of Calvary-- He thought about how much you needed forgiveness, and how much He loves you. So too, we should not be so concerned with how the actions of others around us or what God is doing in the lives of those around us and how those things affect us as we should be with loving those God has put in our lives.
     We need to be willing to lay down our hurts, our wants, our desires, our pride, our feelings in order to love others. And what is love? Love is giving yourself for others. Love is not self-seeking. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love always trusts, it always perseveres, it always hopes, and it does not envy. Love never fails.

     If you have been hurt by things that have happened between the ones you love and yourself, take heart. Jesus was hurt by the ones He loved. Don't focus on your pain, or on how what they did and are doing is affecting you and your heart. Simply love them as Christ loves you, and lay down your life for them, being a blessing and thus being blessed by God.
     Love is merciful. When you love someone, you are willing to overlook and forgive the hurt that you are feeling in order that you may serve them. After all, if they are believers whom you have been hurt by, then it is not they, but God, who has led you down this path. The circumstances which have caused you pain and sorrow are those that God has led them into through their prayers and seeking Him. So, are they to be scorned? Is God to be scorned? Never. Love gives, love forgives, and love shows mercy: God is love. May we always seek to be molded further into the perfect and wonderful image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.