Mercy and love are the defining characteristics of Christ’s disciples, and they reflect the essential nature of His Father – Matthew 5:43-48.
Jesus exhorted
us to become “perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect,” yet how can we
reflect the perfect righteousness of God? The answer is clear - By
performing acts of mercy, especially to our enemies. Self-sacrificial
love goes to the heart of Christ’s message and demonstrates the merciful nature
of His Father. Was the Nazarene not the Messiah who submitted to an unjust
death for us when we were the “enemies of God”?