The next step up the leadership mountain emphasizes further the outward demonstration of leading: “blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

Mercy is found throughout Scripture describing everything from God’s relationship to humanity to our relationship with one another.

The idea behind this word involves a feeling of sympathy aroused by the distress of someone else, with the willingness to get involved and help.

We can see the powerful implication of this thought in considering the richness of God’s mercy because of His great love demonstrated in sending Jesus to die for us (Eph. 2:4-6).

Perhaps the most powerful example of mercy from a human perspective in our relationship to one another is what we call the “Good Samaritan.” His recognition of the need (sympathy) of the man who was beaten, robbed, and left to die moved him to act (willingness to help) by caring for him. Jesus instructs the lawyer who reservedly acknowledged the mercy of this Samaritan to “go and do the same” (Lk. 10:37).

Godly leadership is characterized by the mercy needed to understand the needs of others and help them.