Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:7-8)
By Ron Schmalz
As I grow older, I see more clearly the importance of mercy in bearing witness to our faith by following Jesus’ second commandment in John 13:34: “love one another as I have loved you.” The qualification, “As I have loved you,” reminds us to treat our brothers and sisters with the same kindness, love, and mercy he unfailingly shows us.
Easier said than done, especially when we feel disappointed or upset. At these times, we must call upon God’s grace to equip us with the necessary compassion to see others as the Lord does. We are called to bring the hope of Christ to others by listening to their situation and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through us.
Faith was not as significant a part of my work life early in my career, and I failed to leverage God’s grace in a difficult situation at my first startup. I allowed my frustrations with leadership to draw me into angry unkind behavior, which ultimately damaged my relationship with a senior leader whom I greatly respected.
As I look back over my career, I see my journey through the “Refiner’s Fire” where the Lord continues to humble me, burning away impurities that prevent me from being his merciful presence to others. As we seek God’s will in these encounters, we become instruments of his mercy and are blessed by the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which purify our hearts and bring us closer to him.
With the help of my wife Terri and her many blessings, I have learned how powerful the role of kindness and mercy can be in serving the Lord and bearing witness to our faith. When we actively cooperate with God’s will, he always equips us to be powerful instruments of his mercy and peace as we seek his guidance through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pray
Lord, grant me the fortitude to always seek your will in my relationship to others so that I might become a better instrument of your mercy and love at work.
Reflect
Are there times when I fail to see my coworkers through the eyes of Christ and thereby miss opportunities to share his love and mercy with them?
Discuss
What distractions and other feelings prevent me from being merciful to my coworkers? What impact is this having on my life at work and home?
Ron Schmalz recently moved to the East Coast and now lives in Tolland, Connecticut. His family is blessed with four children and three grandchildren.