MY ARM AROUND YOUR SHOULDER
It is easy to show mercy to someone who is good to you, but how about showing mercy to someone, as they say in England, who has just “done your head in.”
In the gospel of Matthew we are told if you want mercy from God, you have to show mercy.
Matt.5:7 “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
The word “mercy” means leniency and compassion shown towards offenders by a person charged with administering justice.
Mercy is a “must” to do in your marriage.
What is the difference between love and mercy?
First, love is like a friend that visits you whether you are sick or well.
Second, mercy is like a doctor that visits you only when you are sick.
Mercy gives its help when there is a need.
In Genesis, God sent angels to pull Lot out of Sodom and Gomorrah before he destroyed it by fire.
God’s word says that he was being merciful to Lot to take him out of that immoral city before destruction was sent.
I am sure that Lot was asking God, “Why me, Lord?” “Why did you save me?”
Spouses, none of us deserves to be where we are today.
Psa.117:2 “For his merciful kindness is great toward us…”
Has God been merciful and kind to you?
Has God been slow to anger about your sins and failures?
Are you merciful toward your spouse when they sin?
How do you treat them when they have failed?
Are you a kind, merciful Christian to your spouse?
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” Luke 6:36
Psa. 117:2 “For his merciful kindness is great toward us…”
Do you have family members that you have prayed for their salvation.
Why should God send new converts to you when you cannot show mercy, kindness or grace to the ones that are in your midst now.
First pray for your lack of kindness and mercy towards your spouse.
Do you think that as long as you do not drink, smoke, fornicate or commit adultery that means that you are pure?
“The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” Jas.3:17
Are you partial and only show mercy to your spouse when they show mercy to you?
Don’t you hate to be around someone that you know is going to chop you up?
Then why do you do that to your spouse?
How many times has God dug you out of something that could have totally destroyed you?
You can show mercy to your spouse by putting your arm around them, a smile, or a touch.
Maybe you think lecturing them or thrashing them will do good.
If you bask in the comfort thought that God has been merciful to you, you will have an abundance of mercy for your spouse.
NOTE: Daily there is a new post to help your marriage be a success.
LOVE YOUR SPOUSE 
There was a time in my marriage that I would come home and stare at the front door, wondering what was waiting for me on the other side. I never knew what to expect from my husband. It was a horrible time for me and my children. Time after time I would help him get dressed while he hurled insults at me, he would put full plates of food in the sink and tell me to make him something “edible”. One time, I distinctly remember tying his shoe with his other foot in my back. So often I would feel not only helpless but hopeless. Through all this I never spoke harshly to him. It was probably the toughest thing I ever had to do. I would repeat Matt 5:7 to myself over and over.
Now looking back on those times I can hardly believe that was us. Now he tells people how blessed he is to have such a great wife and how my meek and gentle spirit won him back to the Lord. I said all that to say, it was difficult but worth it. I now have that loving husband that I always wanted.
I would never wish these things on anyone but I can say that God is true to his promises.
Thank you Sister Nancy…looking forward to see what God has for us in 2014.
Hi L.Lopez! Thanks for your fantastic comment! You and your husband bring a hope to the hopeless! You keep glorifying God with your testimony!!! Love it!!