1964 Awake! - Theocratic Collector.com

Cornelius, who is approvingly referred to
as one who "made many gifts of mercy to
the people." (Acts 9:36; 10:2) Christians
must be careful not to come short in respect
of deeds of mercy. They should be
careful not to overlook opportunities to
lend a helping hand to their brothers who
may have need of material things, or to
visit a fenow Christian who is sick at home
or in a hospital. While we must "always
offer to God a sacrifice of praise," such
sacrifice does not relieve a Christian of the
need to show mercy. Some activities do
not show up on one's record of preaching,
such as efforts to recover a former preaching
companion, or conducting a home Bible
study with a newly baptized member
of the congregation, or teaching an illiterate
wife to read the Bible. But they are
deeds of mercy, and one should not neglect
them while striving for a fine preaching
record. The Christian apostle Paul advised:
"Do not forget the doing of good
and the sharing of things with others, for
with such sacrifices God is well pleased."
If we remember that 'God wants mercy,
and not sacrifice,' we will not overlook opportunities
to show mercy to members of
our family, to fellow ministers in the congregation
and to others in general.-Heb.
13:16.
Many mistakes in life can be covered
over by the quality of mercy. To the extent
that we are thrown into close association
with others, to that extent opportunities
arise for manifesting this loving
quality that God wants. A son breaks his
father's tools, but asks to be forgiven. In
moments of weakness a husband might
mistreat his wife, or the wife her husband.
There is regret, then forgiveness and mercy.
A fellow Christian feels sorry over
some misdeed. Do we have the disposition
to forgive? We must not become weary of
exercising forgiveness. The apostle Peter
FEBRUARY 8, 1964
thought that there should be a limit to the
number of times he should show mercy to
an erring brother, say, seven times. Jesus
replied: "I say to you, not, Up to seven
times, but, Up to seventy-seven times."
Through mercy we will lovingly cover a
multitude of others' sins; through mercy
we cheerfully bear the burdens that the
weak make for themselves and others.
Forgiveness and mercy can bring domestic
quietness, which is surely better "than
a house full of the sacrifices of quarreling."
-Matt. 18:22; Provo 17:1; 1 Pet. 4:8;
Rom. 15:1.
While making numerous and costly religious
sacrifices today, people of the
world generally lack mercy. Cold and love.
less, they lack fellow feeling and understanding,
as did the Pharisees of Jesus'
day. Like the apostates of ancient Israel,
they forget God's Word, which says: "To
carry on righteousness and judgment is
more preferable to Jehovah than sacrifice."
(Prov. 21:3) God commands us to
show mercy today, not only by charitable
gifts and everyday acts of kindness, but by
informing our neighbors of God's merciful
way of salvation. "To obey is better than
a sacrifice." Why follow in the course of
this world, which prefers to sacrifice than
to show mercy? At the coming war of Armageddon,
this world will have its judgment
without mercy, according to the rule
at James 2:13. But the merciful never
need fear Jehovah's judgment. Rather,
"happy are the merciful, since they will be
shown mercy," to enjoy life in the coming
new order of righteousness.-Matt. 5: 7.
Do you desire to be shown mercy? Then
be like God-love mercy. The Bible shows
that Jehovah "is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and great in lovingkindness."
"Go, then, and learn what this
means, 'I want mercy, and not sacrifice.'''
-Ps.145:8; Matt. 9:13.
7