Word@Work Luke92 - Luke 6:36
Published: Thu, 04/29/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
HEAVENLY MERCY
Luke 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (NIV)
The Bible leaves us in no doubt that God is awesomely powerful. It is not good to fight against Him or to incur His wrath. God's judgement on sin is properly terrifying as we can see by the ten plagues that punished the rebellious Egyptian Pharaoh, and other plagues that destroyed rebellious Israelites. But the gospel tells us that Jesus came to earth to bear the full weight of God's wrath against our sin, and all those who trust in His salvation receive mercy instead of judgement (see www.crosscheck.org.uk to know more).
So, the real reason Jesus came was to demonstrate God's merciful heart to sinners; and in His death to enable mercy to flow without injustice. He died for all, including the most rebellious of all. But, how are they to know that God might be merciful to them - especially if they have not experienced mercy in their upbringing and through their lives? Indeed, many people whose lives have been full of harsh circumstances think of God as an angry person waiting to beat them ... that could not be further from the truth because He is waiting to be merciful to them (Isaiah 30:18). But if they don't believe that can be true, how can they dare to come close enough to seek Him?
The answer is found in God's family. He uses His children to demonstrate His mercy in acts of kindness, with compassion and care, to show the unloved that it is possible to receive what they do not deserve (grace), and not to receive what they do deserve (mercy). It is that sort of godly mercy which melts cold hearts and allows hard hearts to start to feel real love; often for the first time. This is one of the primary callings for God's people, but it is only possible because they themselves have first received mercy through the blood of Christ. However, if you know the joy of sins forgiven, then surely there is an obligation to be merciful to others; but if you are out of the habit of showing mercy, you will need to get back into practice! So, ask the Lord to show you people at work or in the community who deserve God's wrath, and choose to show them kindness for Christ's sake. It does not matter how they respond, you are just getting into practice! But keep on until it becomes a lifestyle habit; and eventually they will ask you how they can find your merciful God.
Prayer: Merciful God, my Heavenly Father. Thank You so much for all the mercy You have shown to me in withholding Your anger until I could learn to accept Your salvation. And thank You for the joy of sins forgiven. Please forgive me in being so quick to accuse, but so slow to show mercy to others; especially as some of the most difficult people have had little love or kindness in their lives. I want to be used by You to be an agent of mercy in a bitter world. Please help me choose to show mercy as a part of my mission in Your Name. For Jesus' sake. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
The Bible leaves us in no doubt that God is awesomely powerful. It is not good to fight against Him or to incur His wrath. God's judgement on sin is properly terrifying as we can see by the ten plagues that punished the rebellious Egyptian Pharaoh, and other plagues that destroyed rebellious Israelites. But the gospel tells us that Jesus came to earth to bear the full weight of God's wrath against our sin, and all those who trust in His salvation receive mercy instead of judgement (see www.crosscheck.org.uk to know more).
So, the real reason Jesus came was to demonstrate God's merciful heart to sinners; and in His death to enable mercy to flow without injustice. He died for all, including the most rebellious of all. But, how are they to know that God might be merciful to them - especially if they have not experienced mercy in their upbringing and through their lives? Indeed, many people whose lives have been full of harsh circumstances think of God as an angry person waiting to beat them ... that could not be further from the truth because He is waiting to be merciful to them (Isaiah 30:18). But if they don't believe that can be true, how can they dare to come close enough to seek Him?
The answer is found in God's family. He uses His children to demonstrate His mercy in acts of kindness, with compassion and care, to show the unloved that it is possible to receive what they do not deserve (grace), and not to receive what they do deserve (mercy). It is that sort of godly mercy which melts cold hearts and allows hard hearts to start to feel real love; often for the first time. This is one of the primary callings for God's people, but it is only possible because they themselves have first received mercy through the blood of Christ. However, if you know the joy of sins forgiven, then surely there is an obligation to be merciful to others; but if you are out of the habit of showing mercy, you will need to get back into practice! So, ask the Lord to show you people at work or in the community who deserve God's wrath, and choose to show them kindness for Christ's sake. It does not matter how they respond, you are just getting into practice! But keep on until it becomes a lifestyle habit; and eventually they will ask you how they can find your merciful God.
Prayer: Merciful God, my Heavenly Father. Thank You so much for all the mercy You have shown to me in withholding Your anger until I could learn to accept Your salvation. And thank You for the joy of sins forgiven. Please forgive me in being so quick to accuse, but so slow to show mercy to others; especially as some of the most difficult people have had little love or kindness in their lives. I want to be used by You to be an agent of mercy in a bitter world. Please help me choose to show mercy as a part of my mission in Your Name. For Jesus' sake. Amen.
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