As a leader you are called upon to be actively gracious and compassionate toward the well-being and peace of others through acts of favor and mercy – even to those who do not desire or deserve it.
“How Can I Possibly Treat This Person?”
Unaware that she was Jewish, Dr. Renate Justin’s new patient, at one point of her medical examination, began to spew her venomous and hideously evil views about the “Minderwertigen” (“scum” – “low downs”) – that is, Jewish people who, as far as she was concerned, “…got what they deserved.” According to Dr. Justin’s patient, they deserved to be eliminated from the “Vaterland;” they deserved hard labor, starvation, and even the gas chamber.
As Dr. Justin gathered the medical history on her new patient she discovered that this new patient was German. Her husband had died fighting for Hitler; her son was a zealous member of the Hitler Youth; and, her role during the war was to supervise Jewish slave laborers.
How was Dr. Justin to explain to her venomous patient that she was Jewish? How could she tell her that she was, as her patient described it, “low-down scum,” that her father had been in a concentration camp, and that many of her relatives died in the gas chambers?
Dr. Justin rightfully felt as if she had been viciously assaulted, which led to a major dilemma. How could she possibly treat this person? How could she be a good physician to her? More than that, how could she be a compassionate, merciful physician? Her patient was suffering from chronic emphysema. She was losing the ability to breathe in and out.
And yet, in that moment, she was reminded of the words of the Torah, “Let compassion breathe in and out of you, filling you with singing.” These words reminded her that, even though her patient’s behavior was worthy of judgment, she could not stifle her own nature – her obligation – to show compassion. Amazingly, Dr. Justin offered to treat the new patient.
You see, Dr. Justin chose to her created capacity, as a bearer of God’s image, to be compassionate to others, extending undeserved favor and mercy toward their well-being and peace. Though Dr. Justin reserved the right to refuse treatment to any patient, she became an “angel of undeserved mercy,” even to this venomous patient who did not deserve it – even to those who hated and despised her.
“It Is an Attribute of God Himself”
This capacity to be merciful is an attribute of God given to you in the creation. William Shakespeare captured the essence of this created attribute in his comedy, The Merchant of Venice (1597?) The villain is the moneylender, Skylark. Antonio, the protagonist, has defaulted on a loan. Skylark, who is offended and wounded, is not only seeking repayment, he is also out for vengeance. So, in payment for his loan, he demands a literal pound of Antonio’s flesh. Skylark’s heart is hard and becomes incapable of extending any mercy toward Antonio.
In Act 4, Scene 1, Portia, the heroine disguised as a lawyer, speaks these famous words to Skylark as the court gathers to render judgment:
The quality of mercy is not strain’d,
“How Can I Possibly Treat This Person?”
Unaware that she was Jewish, Dr. Renate Justin’s new patient, at one point of her medical examination, began to spew her venomous and hideously evil views about the “Minderwertigen” (“scum” – “low downs”) – that is, Jewish people who, as far as she was concerned, “…got what they deserved.” According to Dr. Justin’s patient, they deserved to be eliminated from the “Vaterland;” they deserved hard labor, starvation, and even the gas chamber.
As Dr. Justin gathered the medical history on her new patient she discovered that this new patient was German. Her husband had died fighting for Hitler; her son was a zealous member of the Hitler Youth; and, her role during the war was to supervise Jewish slave laborers.
How was Dr. Justin to explain to her venomous patient that she was Jewish? How could she tell her that she was, as her patient described it, “low-down scum,” that her father had been in a concentration camp, and that many of her relatives died in the gas chambers?
Dr. Justin rightfully felt as if she had been viciously assaulted, which led to a major dilemma. How could she possibly treat this person? How could she be a good physician to her? More than that, how could she be a compassionate, merciful physician? Her patient was suffering from chronic emphysema. She was losing the ability to breathe in and out.
And yet, in that moment, she was reminded of the words of the Torah, “Let compassion breathe in and out of you, filling you with singing.” These words reminded her that, even though her patient’s behavior was worthy of judgment, she could not stifle her own nature – her obligation – to show compassion. Amazingly, Dr. Justin offered to treat the new patient.
You see, Dr. Justin chose to her created capacity, as a bearer of God’s image, to be compassionate to others, extending undeserved favor and mercy toward their well-being and peace. Though Dr. Justin reserved the right to refuse treatment to any patient, she became an “angel of undeserved mercy,” even to this venomous patient who did not deserve it – even to those who hated and despised her.
“It Is an Attribute of God Himself”
This capacity to be merciful is an attribute of God given to you in the creation. William Shakespeare captured the essence of this created attribute in his comedy, The Merchant of Venice (1597?) The villain is the moneylender, Skylark. Antonio, the protagonist, has defaulted on a loan. Skylark, who is offended and wounded, is not only seeking repayment, he is also out for vengeance. So, in payment for his loan, he demands a literal pound of Antonio’s flesh. Skylark’s heart is hard and becomes incapable of extending any mercy toward Antonio.
In Act 4, Scene 1, Portia, the heroine disguised as a lawyer, speaks these famous words to Skylark as the court gathers to render judgment:
The quality of mercy is not strain’d,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:’
Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The thronèd monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly pow’r doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice.
Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to renderdeeds of mercy. [i]
Portia tried to persuade Skylark that mercy is as much of a benefit to the one who grants it as it is to the one who receives it, pleading, “It blesseth him that gives and him that takes,” emphasizing, “It is an attribute of God himself.”
Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV)
Practicing Merciful Leadership
Let’s go one step further. You are to be merciful just as God is merciful: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36, ESV). Just as God acted in response to the plight of His children, you also are to act mercifully toward those who are in need – especially to those who, in your mind, do not deserve it. After all, God loved you even while you were his enemy.
Responding to the needs of others is your opportunity to cultivate this created attribute. It is your opportunity to actively bear God’s image – to be like your Creator and Father. Jesus affirmed this truth so simply – yet so powerfully to His disciples on a mountainside, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7, ESV).
Leaders are Merciful
Mercy is a created leadership attribute. Effective leaders are often called upon to graciously and actively extend undeserved favor and mercy toward the well-being and peace of others. As such it becomes a core leadership trait. As a leader in your home, church, workplace, and community, how will you exercise this key leadership attribute this week – today?
Claiming and cultivating this attribute begins by remembering that it is because of God’s rich mercy that you are able to enjoy extending mercy to others. You fill the earth with the glory of God by reflecting this God-given attribute, mercy, to God and to your neighbors in everything you do and every place you go – your home, your work, your church, and your community. You are to extend mercy, as created leaders, to every one you encounter.
The practice of mercy – identifies you with God.
The practice of mercy – marks you as an effective leader.
The practice of mercy – fills the earth with God’s glory.
You are merciful. You are a leader. This is the truth about leadership! This is the Genesis Principle of Leadership.
Now go out and lead!
[i] Shakespeare, William, The Merchant of Venice, 1597?
Portia tried to persuade Skylark that mercy is as much of a benefit to the one who grants it as it is to the one who receives it, pleading, “It blesseth him that gives and him that takes,” emphasizing, “It is an attribute of God himself.”
Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV)
Practicing Merciful Leadership
Let’s go one step further. You are to be merciful just as God is merciful: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36, ESV). Just as God acted in response to the plight of His children, you also are to act mercifully toward those who are in need – especially to those who, in your mind, do not deserve it. After all, God loved you even while you were his enemy.
Responding to the needs of others is your opportunity to cultivate this created attribute. It is your opportunity to actively bear God’s image – to be like your Creator and Father. Jesus affirmed this truth so simply – yet so powerfully to His disciples on a mountainside, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7, ESV).
Leaders are Merciful
Mercy is a created leadership attribute. Effective leaders are often called upon to graciously and actively extend undeserved favor and mercy toward the well-being and peace of others. As such it becomes a core leadership trait. As a leader in your home, church, workplace, and community, how will you exercise this key leadership attribute this week – today?
Claiming and cultivating this attribute begins by remembering that it is because of God’s rich mercy that you are able to enjoy extending mercy to others. You fill the earth with the glory of God by reflecting this God-given attribute, mercy, to God and to your neighbors in everything you do and every place you go – your home, your work, your church, and your community. You are to extend mercy, as created leaders, to every one you encounter.
The practice of mercy – identifies you with God.
The practice of mercy – marks you as an effective leader.
The practice of mercy – fills the earth with God’s glory.
You are merciful. You are a leader. This is the truth about leadership! This is the Genesis Principle of Leadership.
Now go out and lead!
[i] Shakespeare, William, The Merchant of Venice, 1597?
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