A Prayer to Show Mercy to Others - Your Daily Prayer - May 12

A Prayer to Show Mercy to Others 
By: Emily Rose Massey

Bible Reading:
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36, NASB).

Listen or Read Below:

A couple of months ago, I shared in a blog post about a situation some years back where my husband and I were unnecessarily judged with some harsh words spoken behind our backs by some former pastors. They were warning others not to make associations with us because we are “dangerous.” I offered the readers some wisdom found in Luke chapter 6: ^“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28, NASB).

I was trying to make the point in the blog post that instead of holding onto a grudge and allowing bitterness to form in my heart, I needed to forgive and pray for these pastors just as Christ encourages us to do. Then, recently, I received an email from a reader criticizing this blog post and explaining how we can only forgive someone for the wrong that they have done to us unless they repent. This individual essentially was making the assertion that since God holds someone’s sin against them (when they are not in Christ), we needed to do the same. This argument cannot be found anywhere in the Bible, dear ones. On top of the criticism, I was accused of being prideful, not sincere, not a believer, spreading falsehoods about the gospel, and was told to “be dammed.” What a perfectly timely opportunity for me to put these scriptures on showing mercy into practice once again!

Friends, we don’t have to look very far in the scriptures to see how we are to treat others who have sinned against us (some helpful passages are listed below). In fact, Luke 6 is a wonderful chapter to reflect upon. I mentioned Luke 6:27-28 above, and Jesus repeats this sentiment again further in this same passage:

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36, NASB).

God disciplines His children who sin (Hebrews 12), but His children are in Christ, and His righteousness has been imputed to us. As Christians, we stand forgiven before our Holy God; Our sins are thrown as far as the east is from the west, never to be remembered again (Psalm 103:12). For those who are not in Christ, yes, their sins are not forgiven, and God’s wrath is upon them unless they repent and turn to Christ. To proclaim that we are to judge someone’s sin and hold it against them would put us in the place of God. Friends, we are not God and cannot stand in His place as Judge. All have fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), so we have no place to hold others to a standard we cannot meet apart from Christ! But we all receive mercy and kindness from God, even those who are “ungrateful” and “evil,” as Luke 6:35 tells us. Jesus commands us to be merciful just as God has been merciful to us. Although in the NASB translation the word “forgive” is not used in Luke chapter 6, the word “pardon” is in verse 37: 

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.” 

Pardon is another word for “forgive,” and “forgive” can be found in other translations such as the ESV, NKJV, and NIV. It is not wise to hold onto unforgiveness, friends. Not only can we not find any Biblical precedence for this idea that we should not forgive others unless they repent for their wrongdoing, it flies in direct opposition to what the Lord tells His followers to do: love, bless, pray, forgive, turn the other cheek, give, and be merciful. Not only does He command us to do these things that can seem so impossible sometimes, but His Spirit gives us the ability to do them. 

Mercy is at the heart of the gospel, and as Christ followers, we should rejoice any time we are given opportunities to extend mercy and kindness to those who have sinned against us. This doesn’t mean that we don’t hold others accountable for their actions, ignore their hurtful and hateful behavior, or not create healthy relationship boundaries, but for the sake of our hearts, we need to obey Christ by forgiving them and loving them. Freely we have received mercy, freely we should give. 

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,

I do not deserve Your mercy, but You have been so extravagant with Your love for me. Help me to reflect upon the gift of Your forgiveness daily, so that I can extend the same love to others.

When I am tempted to lose my temper or gossip, set a guard over my mouth, Lord. Help me cultivate and develop the fruit of self-control by the power of Your Spirit so that I can continue to walk peaceably, with all gentleness and humility as Your Word commands.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/Boonyachoat 

Emily Massey began writing short stories and poetry as a little girl, entered the blogging world in her early 20s, and published her first book in 2015. She enjoys being a homeschooling momma of four boys, while still being able to pursue her passion as a writer. Believing she has been forgiven much, she loves much, and desires to point others to Christ and His redemptive and transforming power, especially by sharing truth found in God’s written word. If you would like to connect with Emily, you can visit www.emilyrosemassey.com.

Related Resource: The Blind Spots Hurting Your Relationships, with Debra Fileta

In this episode of I Wish You Could Hear This, Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn sit down with licensed professional counselor and bestselling author Debra Fileta for an honest and insightful conversation about the relationship blind spots many of us don’t realize we have. Together, they explore how emotional patterns, past wounds, and unrecognized habits can quietly shape the way we connect with others.

Debra shares practical wisdom on how to grow in self-awareness, strengthen communication, and take ownership of the ways we impact the people we love. Whether you’re dating, married, leading others, or simply wanting healthier relationships, this episode offers hope-filled tools to help you break unhealthy cycles and build deeper connection.

If you’ve ever wondered why relationships can feel harder than they should—or how to become a healthier version of yourself—this conversation is for you. Like what you hear? Be sure to follow I Wish You Could Hear This on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!