Be Merciful – Joel Osteen Devotional: 20 March 2021
Today’s Scripture
Matthew 7:1, AMPC
Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves.
Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves.
Today’s Word
All around us are broken, hurting people whom God has put in our lives so we can help restore them. It’s easy to criticize them for not making better decisions, but you don’t know where you would be if you had walked in their shoes. Life is not a level playing field. When you’re tempted to judge, remind yourself that they probably didn’t receive everything you did growing up. God has freely given you His mercy that you might freely give it to others. Don’t be stingy with your mercy. God is counting on us to lift the fallen, restore the broken, and heal the hurting. God wants us to be the healers, the lifters, the people who run to help the hurting rather than turning away. God put them in your life so you could be the one to love them, to push them up, to see the best in them, and to help them get free. Instead of condemning the broken, let’s help heal the broken.
All around us are broken, hurting people whom God has put in our lives so we can help restore them. It’s easy to criticize them for not making better decisions, but you don’t know where you would be if you had walked in their shoes. Life is not a level playing field. When you’re tempted to judge, remind yourself that they probably didn’t receive everything you did growing up. God has freely given you His mercy that you might freely give it to others. Don’t be stingy with your mercy. God is counting on us to lift the fallen, restore the broken, and heal the hurting. God wants us to be the healers, the lifters, the people who run to help the hurting rather than turning away. God put them in your life so you could be the one to love them, to push them up, to see the best in them, and to help them get free. Instead of condemning the broken, let’s help heal the broken.
Prayer for Today
Father, thank You for freely giving me Your mercy that I might freely give it to others. Thank You that I can help to lift the fallen, to restore the broken, and to heal the hurting. Help me be willing to love people who are messy and not turn away from them. In Jesus Name, Amen.