The Gift of "Mercy"- "the outward manifestation of pity; it assumes need on the part of him who receives it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it."
W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 403.
The Gift of "Mercy"- "to feel sympathy with the misery of another, especially such sympathy which manifests itself in action, less frequently in word."
Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 107.
The Spiritual Gift of Mercy-
The God-given ability to be sensitive or empathetic to people who are in affliction or misery and to lift internal burdens with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:8)
Perceptive to people in need
Find it hard to say “no” when asked to help
Jump in quickly to help – sometimes without evaluating fully
Lay aside personal desires and personal plans to help others
A peacemaker
Avoid arguments or controversial situations
Rely heavily on feelings (sometimes hold them inside)
Love people despite their faults
Cheerful
Try to find the best in people without doubting them
"Mercy is a form of love determined by the state or condition of its objects. Their state is one of suffering and need, while they may be unworthy or ill-deserving. Mercy is at once the disposition of love respecting such, and the kindly ministry of love for their relief."
John Miley, Systematic Theology, Volume 1 (New York: Hunt & Eaton, 1892), 209.