Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to ask for mercy than it is to give it?

When we make a mistake—maybe we cut someone off in traffic, speak a little too sharply to a family member, or drop the ball on a project—we want understanding. We say, “I had a rough day,” or “I didn’t mean it that way,” and we hope for a little grace. But let somebody else do the exact same thing to us, and suddenly we become strict judges demanding swift justice.

Jesus didn’t leave any wiggle room when it came to how His followers ought to treat others:

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Matthew 5:7

Mercy isn’t meant to stop with us like water poured into a bucket; it’s meant to flow through us like a conduit.

We have received an ocean of mercy from God through Jesus Christ. He has forgiven our staggering debt of sin, wiped our slate clean, and loved us despite our daily shortcomings. How can we receive all of that boundless compassion from our Lord, and then turn around and hold petty grudges against the people in our lives?

Showing mercy to someone doesn’t mean pretending wrongdoing never happened. It simply means making a conscious choice to release the grudge and treat them with the same kindness that God has shown to us.

When we choose mercy over bitterness, we not only set the other person free—we free our own hearts, and we reflect the true character of our Savior to a world that desperately needs it.

Who in your life is God asking you to extend a little mercy and patience to today?