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Description: The gift of Mercy is the divine enablement to cheerfully and practically help those who are suffering or are in need, compassion moved to action.
Distinctives: People with this gift
*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
Traits:
*Empathetic
*Caring
*Responsive
*Kind
*Compassionate
*Sensitive
*Burden-bearing
Cautions: People with this gift
*Need to be aware that rescuing people from their pain may be hindering God’s work in them
*Need to guard against feeling “unappreciated”, since some of the people helped will not show or express any appreciation
*Should guard against becoming defensive and angry about the sources of others’ pain
References:
Romans 12:8
Matthew 5:7
Mark 10:46-52
Luke 10:25-37
Definition taken from Network: Participants Manual, p. 89.
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