Rise Up the Jesus Way: Mercy

When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, He turned the values of the world upside down. In a culture that often prizes power, success, and self-protection, Jesus called His followers to something radically different.

In Matthew 5:7, He declares:

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

Mercy is not just a warm feeling. It’s the compassionate kindness of God shown toward someone in need—undeserved, unearned, and freely given. Mercy bends down to lift the broken, restore the worthless, and move us into action. It’s not passive pity; it’s love in motion.

The Beatitudes are not a “to-do” list of moral achievements; they are an invitation to live a Jesus-shaped life—to be with Him, become like Him, and do what He does. Mercy is central to that life, because mercy is central to who God is.

Micah 6:8 reminds us:

"What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."

If we want to rise up the Jesus way, we must love mercy—not just receive it, but extend it. Let’s explore three ways mercy transforms us and those around us.

1. Mercy Lifts the Broken

God’s mercy doesn’t ignore our failures or pretend they don’t exist. Instead, mercy meets us in our lowest place and refuses to leave us there. Mercy reaches into the dirt, lifts us up, and helps us walk forward in freedom.

In John 8, a woman caught in the act of adultery is dragged before the crowd for public shame and judgment. The law demanded her death, but Jesus stepped into the scene with a challenge: "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone." One by one, the accusers walked away.

When no one was left to condemn her, Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."

Mercy didn’t just save her from punishment; it restored her dignity and gave her a future.

This is the mercy of God—it doesn’t lecture; it lifts. It doesn’t leave us broken; it repositions us. Mercy says, “I love you too much to leave you where you are.”

If you’ve been knocked down by life, shame, or sin, remember: God’s mercy is strong enough to lift you again. And when you’ve experienced that lifting, you are called to offer the same to others.

2. Mercy Restores the Worthless

Mercy is not just for the broken—it’s also for those who feel worthless, forgotten, or beyond hope.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of the prodigal son, who squandered his inheritance in reckless living. When he finally came to his senses and returned home, expecting to be treated as a servant, his father saw him “while he was still a long way off” and ran to him.

The father clothed him with a robe, put a ring on his finger, sandals on his feet, and prepared a feast. The son came home with nothing, but mercy restored his identity, his dignity, and his place in the family.

Mercy always sees the potential when others see worthlessness. It rewrites the story. It reminds us of our value—not because of what we’ve done, but because of who God is.

Many of us have felt unworthy or unloved, but mercy declares: "You are seen. You are known. You are valued."

And when mercy has restored us, we are called to extend that same restoration to others—to be people who speak life where there has been shame, and offer hope where there has been despair.

3. Mercy Moves Us to Action

Receiving mercy is easier than extending it. But the call of Jesus is clear: "Freely you have received; freely give."(Matthew 10:8)

Mercy is not just a feeling; it’s a movement toward others. It crosses the road when others walk by. It stops when others ignore. It interrupts our plans for the sake of love.

In Luke 10, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man is left beaten and half-dead on the road. Religious leaders pass by, but a Samaritan—someone culturally expected to avoid him—stops. He bandages the man’s wounds, pours on oil and wine, puts him on his own donkey, and pays for his care.

This is mercy in action.

Mercy will always:

• See what others ignore.
• Step in when others step away.
• Pay a cost that others are unwilling to pay.

It will interrupt your schedule, challenge your comfort, and require something of you. But in doing so, mercy reflects the heart of Jesus—the One who crossed the ultimate distance to rescue us.

Mercy: Received and Given

We live in a world desperately in need of mercy. Brokenness is everywhere. People feel worthless. Injustice and neglect leave many lying on the roadside of life, unseen and unaided.

But if you are a follower of Jesus, you have been shown mercy. And mercy received should always become mercy given.

It may mean forgiving when you have the right to be angry.
It may mean showing kindness when it’s undeserved.
It may mean helping someone who can’t repay you.
It may mean stopping for someone others avoid.

Mercy is not weakness—it is strength under the control of love. It is the power of God flowing through ordinary people to lift, restore, and heal.

When we rise up the Jesus way, we don’t just talk about mercy—we live it. We see the broken and lift them. We find the worthless and restore them. We let mercy move us to action, even when it costs us.

Let’s be a people who don’t just thank God for His mercy but who allow that mercy to flow through us into a hurting world.

Jon Baldwin

5 Questions for Reflection and Application

1. Who in your life right now is “on the roadside” and needs you to show mercy?
2. How has God’s mercy lifted you when you were broken? How can you share that story to encourage someone else?
3. Is there someone you’ve written off as “worthless” who God is calling you to see through His eyes?
4. What personal comforts, plans, or routines might mercy need to interrupt in your life?
5. In what practical ways can you make mercy an active part of your daily walk with Jesus this week?