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Monday, May 16, 2005 MERCYHope you enjoy this as much as I did. Joyce Meyer wrote it.Carol If there is anything you and I need a lot of every day, it is mercy. Mercy is both an action and an attitude of the heart - it is kindness in excess of what may be expected or demanded. Years ago, I had a real problem of not knowing how to receive mercy. I was very legalistic with myself, always feeling I had to behave properly and do certain things to be accepted by God, others and even myself. So when I got into a relationship with God, I thought He would treat me the same way. When I did something wrong, God would try and give me mercy, but I would put myself under the law and try to pay for every mistake that I made. How did I do it? By sacrificing my joy and peace and allowing myself to feel miserable. I was also legalistic with other people. I didn't want to be harsh and hard. But it seemed like I had a hard heart and I didn't know how to change it. Thankfully, God showed me that Jesus had already paid for my sins completely - past, present and future. All I needed to do was believe it, repent, and receive His mercy. Once I began receiving His mercy, my heart was softened and I was able to begin extending mercy to others. We can only give away what we have. I'm so glad God is NOT like people. He willingly gives mercy to anyone who believes in Him, repents, and is willing to receive it. Now, this doesn't mean He doesn't deal with us when we do things wrong, because He does. But while we're changing, He doesn't withhold His help from us. What God gives, we need to give to others. Sometimes in relationships, we have a tendency to offer others forgiveness with strings attached. We say, "I'll forgive you, BUT ... I won't be getting you a Christmas gift" ..... or "I don't want to be around you any more". And, that is not an attitude of mercy. Mercy in action chooses not to spread negative information about someone - even if it is true. Mercy also chooses not to expose the faults of others, or share their secrets. This doesn't mean we're always to remain silent and never voice our concerns about situations we are in. It just means we need to guard our words and be careful not to get into gossip or slandering others. God has mercy on us when we fail and His love covers our sins - it doesn't expose them. (1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.) What God does for us, we need to do for others. Thats the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In Matthew 9:13, Jesus said: But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. This means He desires to show us mercy when we fail and is ready to help us when we experience trouble. And, as His children, we are to imitate Him in this way. Freely we have received and freely we should give (Matthew 10:8). Don't make people bring you sacrifies to pay for their mistakes. Give them mercy just as God gives you mercy when you fail. The devil is making it hard enough for people - lets not help him! It's bad enough we have to deal with the enemy's attacks and the day to day stresses of life. We need to start helping each other by focussing on each others strengths instead of focussing on each others faults. Noticing the good that people do is what brings healing in our relationships and keeps them strong. Remember, James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. and Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and [it is] his glory to pass over a transgression. I encourage you to begin developing a merciful attitude towards peoples failures and mistakes. Just as Jesus understands us, our weaknesses, our background, and why we do what we do, make it your aim, through Christ, to understand others. God never expects us to give away what we don't have, but once He gives us mercy (which He provides continually) He expects us to be willing to give mercy away. As you sow mercy, you will reap mercy - good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over! # posted by Caroline @ 9:10 am 0 comments
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