Tag: mercy

The Poor in Spirit and the Kingdom of Heaven

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If you’re anything like me you’ve probably read the Beatitudes many times. Personally, I’m drawn to them. But I believe Christians often miss the message Jesus intended. Because it’s rare to hear the Church speak of these. It’s as if the Lord Jesus spoke them in such a way that one could easily overlook the importance of their message and instead be blinded by the poetic use of the words. But once those words truly sink in, you realize the importance of what the Lord is really saying. For instance, the first beatitude reads;

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

The word poor usually means someone who lacks, lacking, or is destitute. Which I could then read as someone who isn’t arrogant or prideful, but, is humble and feels unworthy.  This description actually reminds of the Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector, which reads;

Luke 18:10,14 – “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to Heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbled himself will be exalted.”

See what I mean?

The tax collector wasn’t only  humble, but, he felt so unworthy that he couldn’t bring himself to look up to Heaven. He knew he was a sinner, admitted it to God and asked for mercy.

But there’s more. You see, the Lord Jesus tells us that those who aren’t arrogant, who aren’t righteous in their own eyes, who humble themselves before God, who admit they’re a sinner, have a final destination. And that destination is;

The Kingdom of God.

The Price of Unforgiveness

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One of the basic elements of our Faith is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, all our strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. And when we truly love from our heart, we walk in step with the Spirit.

So, why do Christians have such a difficult time with forgiving?

Sometimes we ourselves make it difficult to forgive because we take on a victim mentality. And maybe it wasn’t fair what was done to us, but, harboring that unforgiveness in our hearts will eventually choke out the love we’re called to have for our neighbor.

Just as our Lord Jesus Christ we’re called to love, forgive, show mercy and compassion. But if we’re unable to forgive people in our lives from the present to the past, maybe, we should be asking ourselves, do I really have love in my heart the way Christ Jesus commanded?

This issue of Unforgiveness reminds me of the parable of the unforgiving servant found in Matthew 18:23-35. Jesus starts off by saying;

Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain King who wanted to settle accounts with His servants. One of His servants owed Him ten thousand talents. But as he was  not able to pay, His Master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before Him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the Master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

But that servant went out and found one of his servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all. And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.

So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his Master, after He had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you? And His Master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My Heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brothers trespasses.

Did you catch the last two sentences Jesus said?

This statement should strike fear in all the hearts of those who are harboring unforgiveness. And something else to think about, how can one advance in their walk with Christ when they’re holding on to the bitter seeds of Unforgiveness?

Remember, nothing is too difficult for the Lord. If you truly want to follow Christ you must be willing to pray and tell Him you have Unforgiveness in your heart and you need His help so you can work through it. Because we can do nothing on our own. And He will ensure you love as He loves, that you  show mercy, compassion and forgiveness as He did and still does. And remember what the Lord Christ Jesus said as He was being crucified in Luke 23:34?

And Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Now that’s the ultimate forgiveness!

Righteous in Our Own Eyes

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Before I learned about the Lord and His teachings, I thought I was a good person. I said all the right things, did all the right things, was more than willing to help anyone I could. But little did I realize I was righteous in my own eyes. And many are experiencing this same thing in our world today whether one calls themself a Christian or not.

So don’t be surprised to learn that the word righteous is replaced with words like good, decent, noble, ethical, and trustworthy to name a few. We don’t really think about it until we hear someone say, she’s a good person, or, you can trust them, they’re trustworthy. And when we hear this we should ask ourselves, by whose standard of measure are they using? Is it from a biblical standard, or, a worldly standard? Because there is a difference and to emphasize this point I turn to one of my favorite Parables, the Pharisee and Tax Collector. Jesus starts off by saying;

Luke 18:10,14 – Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the other men – swindlers, evildoers, adulterers or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all I acquire.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling to even lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

To me this is a perfect representation of what Jesus spoke about throughout His whole ministry. The need to recognize that we are all sinners and be willing to humble ourselves and repent of our sins. But Jesus also said in Matthew 9:12,13;

But when He heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

Many of us are righteous in our own eyes, but, it’s those who know they are sinners, it’s those who cry out to God in desperation because of their own wrongdoing, it’s those who grieve over their sins, and it’s those who speak from their heart that God is truly looking for.

Not those who are righteous in their own eyes!

Mercy For Those Who Go Astray

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To truly understand God’s mercy that Jesus spoke of I believe it’s important to read God’s Word, the Bible, for ourselves. Because it’s while reading God’s Word that we begin to uncover the true meaning of God’s message. It’s also during this time we begin to realize that the Good News is not only a message of God’s love but one of mercy, compassion and forgiveness given through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There are many scriptures found within the Bible about God’s mercy, but, I chose only a few to help me understand God’s divine purpose through His mercy and how it affects Christians who have gone astray. What many call the Backsliding Christian. The first two scriptures read;

Joel 2:12,13 (AMP) – “Even now,” says the LORD, “Turn and come to Me with all your heart [in genuine repentance], with fasting and weeping and mourning [until every barrier is removed and the broken fellowship is restored]; Rip your heart to pieces [in sorrow and contrition] and not your garments.” Now return [in repentance] to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger abounding in lovingkindness [faithful to His covenant with His people]; and He relents [His sentence of] evil [when His people genuinely repent].

What really stands out to me in these scriptures is the need to genuinely repent. Because when we genuinely repent we do it from a place of sorrow within our heart. When a follower of Christ goes astray and is looking to restore their relationship with God they will be convicted. Convicted over their sin, convicted over their deeds in thoughts and actions, and this conviction is what brings grief, mourning and lots of tears.

But many Christians believe once we stray that’s it, but, it’s not what scripture tells us, even in the parable of the Lost Sheep Jesus tells us;

Matthew 18:12,13 (BSB) – What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

God will give mercy to those who genuinely repent and that’s the key. Don’t think you can just recite a prayer asking to be forgiven, because that’s missing the most important part, YOUR HEART!

Mercy to the  Merciful

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Earlier today I watched a docudrama entitled, The Thing About Pam. Now I normally don’t watch these type of shows, but, since my husband had already started it I decided to watch, while we ate our dinner.

After it was over I prayed for all those who were affected by the crimes committed. This I did while washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen. Naturally as I spoke to God I wanted Him to know I wasn’t judging or condemning this person, that’s not for me to do, because judgement is for Him.

But as I continued washing dishes I heard the word mercy. It reminded me of the scripture in Matthew 9:12,13, which reads;

When Jesus heard, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. “

As a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, as a Christian, I’m not called to judge or condemn others. However Christians are  called to stand on God’s Truth, but, not from a judgemental view, but from a merciful view. Because the Lord Jesus came to call sinners to Him and if we’re being completely honest, we’ve all sinned, we all fall short of the glory of God.

Bless the Lord God Almighty for His mercy, compassion, love and grace. None of us deserved it, but He gave it anyway. So  before it’s too late let every Christian evaluate their walk with Christ. Because Jesus is coming back and I pray that all who call themselves a Christian, are not only reading God’s Word, but putting them into practice.

If you find yourself unsure where you stand with God, if you find yourself judging or condemning people who have committed crimes, I urge you to fall on your knees and repent.

Because God gives mercy to the merciful!

Study the Bible?

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Story after story
adventure, battles, love
poems, history, narratives
mysteries, miracles, madness
hope, forgiveness, mercy
justice, might, Almighty

The Bible answers our questions
leaves us with dozens more
guides, rebukes, promises
layered with meanings
prophesies, hope

The Bible is God's Word
His gift to those who choose
to love, obey, follow
Bible is precious, holy, divinely inspired.

*****
Each time we read the Bible, we are blessed as more is revealed to us about who God is and what kind of relationship He wants with us. Our understanding grows as we spiritually mature and are capable of understanding its many messages. Again and again I read it, each time gleaning new things I didn't see before. It is the most read book to ever exist. And will continue to be...
God’s Path of Light
Study the Bible?

When Mercy Ends

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“But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting

upon them that fear him,

and his righteousness unto children’s children:

To such as keep his commandments to do them.

The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens

and his kingdom ruleth over all.”

Psalm 103: 17-19, KJV

The weight of his crimes dropped onto his shoulders. His knees buckled. At the crack of the soldier’s whip, he righted himself under his burden. He had seen many victims raised between heaven and earth on the Roman’s cross. Each heavy step echoed his wrongdoing and carried him closer to his judgment. His accomplice in lawlessness, with muscles bulging under the crossbeam, marched in front of him as erect as his strength would carry him.

It was the man leading the death train who caught the first thief’s notice. He stumbled and finally fell. Movement stopped. Weeping filled the air. Then a shout as a soldier grabbed a bystander to carry the fallen man’s crossbeam.

We will return to the three men, but first, let’s talk about mercy, the lovingkindness of our God available to all but received by few.

“Incline your ear, and come unto me:

hear, and your soul shall live;

and I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

even the sure mercies of David.”

Isaiah 55: 3, KJV

Many people, both believers and nonbelievers, fail to see the mercy of God in the Old Testament writings.

Meeting Jesus With Donna Sterns

When Mercy Ends