• 
• 
• 
• 

Today's Devotional

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy—Matthew 5:7 (ESV).

It is not fitting that the man who will not forgive should be forgiven, nor shall he who will not give to the poor have his own wants relieved. God will measure to us with our own bushels, and those who have been hard masters and hard creditors, will find that the Lord will deal severely with them. “He shall have judment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy.”

This day let us try to give and to forgive. Let us mind the two bears: bear and forbear. Let us be kind, and gentle, and tender. Let us not put harsh constructions upon mens conduct, nor drive hard bargains, nor pick foolish quarrels, nor be difficult to please. Surely we wish to be blessed, and we also want to obtain mercy: let us be merciful, that we may have mercy. Let us fulfil the condition, that we may earn the beatitude. Is it not a pleasant duty to be kind? Is there not much more sweetness in it than in being angry and ungenerous? Why, there is a blessedness in the thing itself! Moreover, the obtaining of mercy is a rich reward. What but sovereign grace could suggest such a promise as this? We are merciful to our fellow-mortal in pence, and the Lord forgives us “all that debt.”

About the author and the source

Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892) was an eminent and successful preacher who often suffered deep depression. In days of darkness, he clung to God’s promises. One of the books most-beloved by his readers consisted of daily readings based on promises that faith could rely upon.