Are You Getting Enough Mercy in Your Daily Diet?

Graciously, He gives us what we need

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matt. 5:6

If you have been given mercy, you now should try hard to give it away!  And only those who show mercy will be those who continue to receive mercy, even a habitual, continual mercy focused right on you.   Being a merciful person doesn’t mean you’re getting sentimental or “teddy bear soft.”  But instead it looks a lot ike sympathy– that caring love that dresses up in a working servant’s clothing.

Jesus has no intention of just saving us from sin.  He saves us for something!  He has this trick, where He will start “a to live your life inside of  you, campaign.”  When you give Jesus your ‘green light” He takes it very seriously.  He involves Himself right inside of you.  And you will notice right away His presence and His activity right there in your heart, and out from your hands, and from out of your mouth.

We discover that He just isn’t a “forgiving God,”  but He is also an “empowering” or a changing kind of God! He intends to make you perfect, even as He is perfect.

Our church buildings can be beautiful places.  From Mexico, the UK, Canada and US, I’ve had the privilege of wandering into some beautiful places, that have been consecrated to the worship of the Lord God.  But I have come to this conclusion: our own lives are far more important in touching our communities, much more than our buildings and sanctuaries.  A fine liturgy can be wonderful, but it’s the laity that will touch our hearts.

People really do not care how much we know, until they know how much we care. 

They are being drawn by the Spirit’s presence in you.  They want the “real” Jesus Christ to ignite them.  They so desperately want to be touched by the living God.  They really want their lives turned upside down and inside out.  They want the real thing.

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God Have Mercy

David said to Gad, ‘I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.’”

2 Samuel 24:14, NIV

Life unfolds on us, and it should cause us to turn directly at Him.  It won’t take us to long to grasp the incredible beauty that is now ours.  We understand very little, apart from our connection with Him.  Our relationship is vital, and we turn and receive all that He gives.

At moments like these, I gravitate toward mercy.  I don’t know why, I just do.  Mercy is a wonderful characteristic to have.  We reach through the armholes and tie it on.  It’s like a ‘life preserver’ for strugglers.  We fit into it like a glove. Only when we receive mercy, can we become merciful. And when you are merciful, everyone knows.

Mercy makes us step out into a new direction, and we begin to accumulate a fresh sense of being.  We turn into the wind, and prepare to launch, like the old Navy carriers.  We are ‘shot’ into heaven, with very little regard to what we will do, when we get there.   Catapulted into sky, we quickly learn how to make it work.

But mercy is also a treat.  It carries a deep sense of joy and grace.  When we drive it home we make it understandable, and many will gravitate toward that.  Mercy comes and penetrates our fog.  Mercy communicates a solid grace.  It brings us securely home, like nothing else can.

David has put confidence into the mercy of God.  Given a choice between the mercy of God and the dealings of man, he quickly chooses God.  David, is familiar with the wickedness of men.  He has seen it all first-hand.  But the great mercy of God excels beyond David’s desire.  ‘Let it be God, and I will take everything that He gives’.

Mercy insists that we take her seriously.  Kindness is a reasonably  ‘substantial’ grace.  But when we show Mercy, it is a great step in spiritual warfare.  When mercy shines out, it destroys strongholds completely.  Being merciful is an exceptional gift–when we show it, we’ll penetrate an entrenched evil and terrible darkness.

&

ybic, Bryan