#NUTSHELL – APRIL 10th — MERCY! MERCY! – Luke 18:35-43: If you grew up decades ago in the southern United States (the deeper the better), you likely remember hearing the expression “Lord have mercy!” Whenever life took a turn for the worst, it was a familiar expression in the deep South because, “the south” is synonymous with the “Bible belt” and “Lord, have mercy!” is a biblical expression. “Have mercy” occurs 46 times in Scripture; 12 times in Psalms alone – the book in which authors were often found imploring God for relief or help. Jesus was called upon to “have mercy” on several occasions by those in need and He responded by granting healing or deliverance as required. What is mercy? It is when we don’t get what we deserve. Being sinners we deserve all manner of consequences. So when we feel we’re in the middle of spiritual discipline we call out to God to “have mercy” and take the bad situation away. By grace, God often does – grace being given as something (relief) we don’t deserve. Grace and mercy are opposite sides of God’s coin called love. When we are kind to others and practice a merciful attitude we become recipients of mercy ourselves. Just as a sower reaps the crop he has sown, so do merciful people reap what has been planted in the lives of others. “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart therefore; as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10). Find someone today, this week to show mercy to. If someone does something wrong and thus deserves judgment, extend mercy instead.
Posted on: Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:02:00 +0000
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