Show mercy to others, even though you are afraid that you might be stained by their sinful lives. God can guard you so that you don’t fall.
Jude 23–24
Mercy can’t be afraid of getting dirty. When you reach out to help those who are hurting and have turned their backs on God, you can’t be afraid of getting a little messy. Sure, you have to guard your heart against friendship with the world. You can’t go around giving away your heart willy-nilly to those who hate God and haven’t made him Lord, but you can give them your hand. You can offer to help.
Mercy demonstrates a desire to show others the God who saves. How will they know if they haven’t heard? How will they hear if you don’t speak up? Mercy requires your fearlessness. Mercy’s target is misery—the misery of those who suffer because they don’t know God or understand his love. Because of this darkness of their soul, they don’t understand what they are doing; they don’t know the depths of their sin. Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (see Luke 23:34). Show them mercy because they are in misery.
When people insult you, gossip about you, or otherwise prove their distance from the Father, as a God Girl you should have mercy on them, for their soul is in distress. You should find ways to serve, rather than to criticize. Your trademark reaction should always be showing mercy and compassion to those who are weaker than you. “God can guard you so that you don’t fall and so that you can be full of joy” (Jude 24), but you must put all your hope in him and turn all your thoughts onto him. Never focus so much on other people’s misery that you take your eyes off of God. Obey him, love them, show them mercy and compassion, and pray for them, but never fear them and never turn your back in indifference or hate.