Mercy

Service / Practical Gifts

Literal Meaning

To have compassion.

Description

The gift of Mercy is the divine enablement to cheerfully and practically help those who are suffering or are in need. Mercy is compassion moved to action.

Distinctives

People with this gift tend to:

  • •Focus upon alleviating the sources of pain or discomfort in suffering people.
  • •Address the needs of the lonely and forgotten.
  • •Express love, grace and dignity to those facing hardships and crisis.
  • •Serve in difficult or unsightly circumstances and do so cheerfully.
  • •Concern themselves with individual or social issues that oppress people.

Common Traits

EmphaticCaringResponsiveKindCompassionateSensitiveBurden-bearing

In Practice

Hospital visits, caring for the lonely, comforting the grieving, refugee ministry, patience with struggling individuals

Cautions

Every gift can be misused or overextended. Here are some things to watch for:

  • ⚠May find it hard to be firm and decisive because they do not want to hurt or offend other people.
  • ⚠May tend to take up offenses when they see someone hurting another person, particularly if it is a friend who is being hurt.
  • ⚠Usually have as their first concern to remove the cause of suffering as soon as possible, without recognizing the spiritual growth the suffering may mean.

Scripture References

Biblical foundations for this gift:

Romans 12:8Matthew 5:7Mark 10:46-42Luke 10:25-37

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