I Will Have MERCY

“I will have mercy and not sacrifice” (Mt 9:13).  In other words, “I would rather see you have love and not just a dutiful law-keeping offering of sacrifices and good works.  I’d rather you give love to somebody than to just be so self-righteous and judge and condemn them.”

The drunks, drug addicts, street-walkers and sinners need to come to Jesus also!–Just like when He was walking this earth.  They (the outcasts) came to Him for love and mercy, and He treated them tenderly, kindly and forgivingly, and gave them hope and love and strength.  Those downhearted and downtrodden didn’t go to the harsh, rigid, self-righteous, unyielding, unforgiving, critical and condemning religious leaders.  Those leaders told them to be perfect or go to hell!

“And above all things have fervent love among yourselves; for love shall cover the multitude of sins” (1Pt 4:8).  It could be easy to love someone in your circle of friends, but where our love for God gets tested is with the “unlovely”. Those are only met with self-righteousness. But when you realize how much you need mercy yourself, it’s easier to be merciful to others; –remembering continually what sinners we are and how many mistakes we’ve made helps greatly to keep us humble and to avoid that spirit of self-righteous pride which causes us to criticise and condemn others.

Jesus came into a very imperfect and sinful world, looking at all of us with love, when we were sinners, not knowing God!  “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Ro 5:7,8).

There are so many people searching for love!  –People everywhere are looking around for some little ray of hope, some salvation, some kind of bright spot somewhere!  A little love, a little mercy, someplace where they can find some relief!–And if you can show them that love really does exist, then they can believe that God exists!  “A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (Jn 13:34). 

The first and most important thing to do with those in our Christian fellowship, as well as those lost in darkness is to show them in some way that you LOVE them!–Like Jesus Who came to love the world and calls us to do the same in every facet of life, in every way, to give them love in Jesus’ Name!  “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God” (2Thes 3:5).

Even the little things you do can mean a lot:  A little bit of love goes such a long way!  –The light of your smile, the kindness of your face, the influence of your life can shed light on many, and have an amazing effect among some of the people you sometimes think might be the least likely to be impressed.  When they feel your love and you tell them that it’s God’s love, they kind of feel like, “Maybe somebody up there does love me!”  –That kind of Godly expressions of love can change their whole outlook and give them a real uplook. 

“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in LOVE one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you” (1 Thes 3:12).

By Linda Dianne