Show Mercy

What does mercy mean to you? Do you think of mercy as forgiveness? Do you think it means showing compassion? Do you think it is having pity on someone? Do you believe it only applies to friends or family? Will you show mercy to an enemy? How does God show mercy to you?

Showing mercy to others can be a challenge. We may think they deserve what is coming. We may have said, “they have made their bed, now they must lie in it.” Mercy includes forgiveness, compassion, and pity. We are called to show mercy to others in the same way God has shown mercy to us.

God is merciful to all of us, even if we may think otherwise. If God was a hateful God, he would strike us down the moment we were disobedient. Thankfully, God is a merciful God. He allows us to not only continue to live but blesses us in ways we do not realize. We are blessed with family, friends, jobs, homes, food, clothing, and any number of possessions. It is in God’s mercy that we stand.

Though we are disobedient, God shows mercy to us. Though others are disobedient, God shows mercy to them. We like to point the finger at the disobedience of others. We would be better served to recognize our disobedience and thank God for his mercy on us. It is when we take on this attitude that we are better positioned to show mercy to others.

I pray we all recognize our disobedience toward God. I pray we thank God for his mercy on us. I pray each one of us will show mercy to others, even those we deem as our enemies. Recognize your disobedience. Thank God for his mercy. Show mercy to others.

Romans 11:32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

Live In Unity

How well do you live with others? Are you willing to get along? Are you willing to compromise? Are you willing to forgive? Will you agree on the main things and not worry about the small things? Will you live in unity of what is important? Will you do what is best for all?

Living with others can be a challenge, even those we love. Disagreements happen. Feelings get hurt. Emotions may run high. Getting along with family we do not live can also be a challenge for the same reasons. Despite those things happening, we can still live together in unity.

Unity does not mean we agree on everything. It does mean we agree on the main thing. This is especially true for the church. We may not achieve unanimous agreement on what flowers are to be planted nor the color of the signs. We can all state many things that occur that we do not agree with. But disagreement does not need to divide us.

Agreeing that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior is foundational. Agreeing that Jesus was born, lived among us, died on a cross, was buried, and rose on the third day is foundational. Agreeing that God has called all of us to be in mission with him is foundational. How we go about mission will be different for each of us depending on our spiritual gifts.

The Psalmist tells us it is good and pleasant when we live together in unity. He did not say we must agree on everything. It is a choice for us to live in unity. Some will refuse to do so because they want things their way. It is our willingness to live together in unity despite our differences that we learn new things. Without the diversity of thought, we never grow.

I pray we all realize we do not have to agree on everything. I pray we choose to be gracious toward one another. I pray each one of us will choose unity rather than division. We won’t always agree with others. Be gracious in disagreement. Choose to be unified in Jesus.

Psalm 133:1

How very good and pleasant it is 

when kindred live together in unity!

Bad Things Happen

Have you ever recognized that something you thought was bad turned out to be for the good? Have you seen God work in ways that seemed impossible to you? Did you give credit God? Did you tell others about God’s work through the bad to bring good from it?

Bad things happen in this world. Sometimes, they are truly bad while other times they are God working differently than we imagine. It is not always what happens but how we react to it. It can make a big difference depending on whether we trust God or try to tackle it on our own.

Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers. He risen in Potiphar’s house, becoming his chief servant. He was falsely accused of attempted rape. He was thrown in prison. He was forgotten. When remembered, he became Pharoah’s second in command. He became the one who directed the Egyptians to set aside a portion of their crops for a future of famine. His leadership and good management may have saved thousands of lives. Through all of it, his faith in God never faltered.

Though our troubles may never match Joseph’s, we can hold onto our faith just as he did. When troubles come our way, we can continue to trust God. We can remember that God works all things to the good for those who love him (Romans 8:28). It all boils down to our faith and trusting that God is in control.

I pray we all know that bad things happen in this world. I pray we trust that God will work all things for our good. I pray we hold onto our faith and remember God is still in control. Bad things happen. Trust God. God works all things to the good. Hold onto your faith. God is in control.

Genesis 45:4-5 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.”

Learn from the Ant

How are you preparing for the future? What future are you preparing for? Have you taken time to plan for your future? Are you following your plan? Does your plan include God? Are you preparing to do the good works he has set aside for you? Are you storing up treasures in heaven?

We plan for many things. We plan for vacations, purchasing a new home, purchasing a new vehicle, purchasing food, and much more. If we follow our plans, they will come to fruition. Planning is part of preparation. But preparation also includes taking action on the plan.

Just as we plan for many earthly things, we must also plan for heavenly things. We are to plan to work with God, to play our part in fulfilling his plan. That may sound odd to some of us but that does not make it any less true. His plan may include us supporting a mission or ministry. That support may come in the form of financial support or active participation in it. Are we ready to commit to God’s plan and be part of it?

The ant is an example for preparation. They inherently know that winter is coming. They store up food to survive a winter in which food is scarce. They work as a unit to support the queen, attend to the eggs, raise the youth, and ensure the colony continues. As a church, we are to do the same. We are to support the mission of God for our local church, raise and prepare the youth, with all of this to continue to ensure the church continues in God’s plan.

I pray we all spend time considering how we can support God’s plan for the church. I pray we commit to God’s plan and mission of the church. I pray each one of us will consider how we can support and participate in God’s plan. Commit to God’s Plan. Join the mission. Participate in God’s plan.

Proverbs 6:6

Go to the ant, you lazybones; 

consider its ways and be wise.

Amazing Deeds

When was the last time you were totally amazed? What amazed you? Was it something somebody did? Was it a natural event, such as a sunrise or sunset? Were you amazed by something you did not expect? When was the last time you were amazed by God?

I hear people say, “that’s amazing” far too much. Often what they say is amazing is just a little above average. Overstating has become the norm. We hear the words amazing, incredible, forever, never, and similar type words knowing full well they are not the appropriate descriptors.

The disciples were truly in awe. They had seen something amazing. After Jesus had fed the five thousand, He sent them away in a boat and He went up on the mountain to pray. Early the next morning, perhaps just as dawn was breaking, they see Jesus walking on the water. They thought He was a ghost. Peter tells Jesus to call him out on the water, if it was really Jesus. Jesus does. Peter begins to sink. Jesus saves Him and they get in the boat. The disciples confess that Jesus is the Son of God.

We look at stories like this, and I think we only half believe it. Mentally, we may resign ourselves to saying its true. But deep down in our heart, do we believe? Are we amazed? I’m sure if we were in the boat with the disciples, we would have been amazed. We would have told everyone we met what we witnessed. So, why don’t we do that anyway? Witnessed to Jesus’s amazing acts should be part of our telling others the good news. After all, it’s all about Jesus.

I pray we all are amazed by what Jesus did. I pray we believe deep in our hearts Jesus’s amazing acts. I pray each one of us will include the amazing things Jesus did when we tell others about Him. Be amazed at Jesus. Believe Jesus’s amazing acts. Tell others about Jesus’s amazing deeds.

Matthew 14:32-33 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Quiet Time

How well do you handle large crowds? Are you comfortable with meeting new people and interacting with them? Or do crowds cause you to seek a place to hide? After a very busy day do you feel the need to sit and be quiet? Do you want to go to a place of solitude?

Depending on your personality type, large crowds can be exhilarating or they can trigger anxiety. Some of us get excited for parties while others dread going to them. A busy and stressful day at work may result our desire to sit quietly at home that evening.

Jesus had had a busy day. He had planned to go to a quiet place but was met by a crowd that could have been large enough to fill a stadium. Matthew tells us there were five thousand men plus women and children, meaning there could have been as many as twenty thousand people. Jesus cured their sick. Imagine the line of people He may have had who were seeking a cure. When all the sick were cured, He had them set down and fed them. Jesus was likely exhausted, both mentally and physically. He needed some quiet time to commune with the Father.

Today, many people forgo the quiet time in prayer. They substitute quiet time for watching television, streaming movies, or playing video games. Though these may allow us to relax or take our minds off the busyness, they are a poor substitute for a quiet prayerful time with God. Jesus said His burden is light and we are to take it while giving Him our burdens. We give it all to Him in prayer. It is in quiet prayer time that we find real relief from our worries and stress. It is in that prayer time that we receive the guidance we need from God.

I pray we all know there is no substitute for quiet time with God. I pray we spend time in prayer, giving God our burdens. I pray each one of us seeks a quiet place to commune with God to relieve our worries and stress. Find a quiet place to spend with God. Give your burdens to him. Seek God’s guidance.

Matthew 14:22-23a Immediately he made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray.

Hear Jesus Proclaimed

How often do you hear someone proclaim Jesus? Do you hear His proclamation at least weekly? How and where do you hear Jesus proclaimed? Do you hear and understand what is being proclaimed about Him? Are you paying attention and invested in the proclamation?

The Apostle Paul tells us there is no difference in any of us regardless of race or gender. God is God over all and he is generous to everyone who calls on him. God loves every person on this earth, for everyone is made in the image of God. But God wants us to believe in him and his Son, Jesus Christ.

Paul asks a rhetorical question, “How can anyone call on Jesus’ name, if they do not hear about Him?” We cannot believe in something we have not heard about, which applies to Jesus. We must not only hear about Him but must believe in Him. When we believe in Him and call on Him, He answers us. Yet, how do we hear about Him? Paul tells us Jesus must be proclaimed.

When Paul speaks of proclaiming Jesus, he is talking about preaching. This means we need to hear sermons about Jesus. Where do we hear sermons? Churches. Paul is telling us we need to someone who will preach a sermon about Jesus so we will hear and believe. He is telling us we need to attend and participate in worship services. In today’s world, we can watch them from the comfort of our own homes. Yet, that is a weak way of hearing them. It cannot fully replace being in person. By being in person, we feel the moving of the Holy Spirit. We are affected in a more complete way.

I pray we all know that God loves everyone. I pray we all seek to hear Jesus proclaimed so we will believe. I pray each one of us will attend worship services in person and call on Jesus’ name. God loves you. God loves everyone. Hear Jesus proclaimed. Attend worship services. Call on Jesus’ name.

Romans 10:12-14 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?

Reconciled with God

How much do you think about who will go to heaven? Do you think of heaven as something you must earn? Do you think that if you disobey one command from God that you will be disinherited? Are you continually battling to obey and beating yourself up when you don’t?

Many Christians think about heaven on a regular basis. They hold it up as something that they will gain when they pass from this mortal life. Some act as though they must earn their way to heaven. They strive with their own strength to discipline themselves to obey every command.

Evidently, the Apostle Paul saw the same striving in the church in Rome. It is also apparent at least some of the Christians in Rome were Jewish. For Paul uses language from Deuteronomy to make his argument. He is referring to obeying the law of Moses. His point is simple; no one can completely obey the law. As fallible humans, we fall short in one way or another.

Paul’s point is that Jesus has already reconciled us with God. That is not to say that we should continue in our sin. We should strive to eliminate it with God’s help. We need the Holy Spirit guiding us and helping us along the way to be transformed into the person God’s desires us to be. Submitting to God is not giving up our humanity. It is becoming fully human and being the image of God in which he made us to begin with.

I pray we all know we cannot fully obey God’s law on our own. I pray we seek the help of the Holy Spirit. I pray each one of us knows Jesus has already reconciled us with God so that we can be transformed. Seek the Holy Spirit’s help. Jesus has reconciled you to God. Be transformed.

Romans 10:6-7 But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

Seek Reconciliation

How do you and your siblings get along? Do you get angry with one another? Have you taken revenge against a sibling? Have you considered revenge? What caused you to be angry with a sibling? Was it something significant? Is it worth tearing apart your family?

We can become angry with a sibling for any number of reasons. The disagreement we have can be short-lived or last for years. It may even start with thinking our siblings is being favored by our parents. But holding a grudge or continuing to be angry will not fix our problem.

Joseph’s brothers did not like him. They saw that their father, Jacob, favored Joseph. Not only that, but Joseph’s dreams had elevated him above his brothers. They felt like Joseph thought he was better than them. They were angry and seeking some way to put him in his place. When Joseph was sent by Jacob to see how they were doing with the flock, they saw their opportunity. Their anger was so fierce, they decided to kill him. Reuben talked them out of it. Still, they sold him as a slave and took his coat covered in goats’ blood to their father, who concluded Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.

We may not go to the extent that Joseph’s brothers did, but we can do just as much damage. We may turn our backs on our siblings. We may seek to never speak to them again. The effect is the same as having sold them to slavery. Too often our reason is weak, it cannot stand up to serious scrutiny. Rather than reacting in such a way, we should seek to discuss the offense and seek reconciliation. We are called to forgive one another, demonstrate grace and mercy just as God has done for us.

I pray we all seek reconciliation with family members. I pray we forgo anger and revenge. I pray each one of us will demonstrate forgiveness, grace, and mercy just as God as shown us. Seek reconciliation. Forgo anger. Forgo revenge. Forgive one another. Demonstrate grace. Show mercy.

Genesis 37:17b-18 So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them they conspired to kill him.

Carefully Love Your Children

How well do you love your children? If you have more than one, do you love each of them differently? Do you love one of them more than the others? Do you do more for one than the others? Do you think your children see the difference? Do you think other people see the difference?

When we have more than one child, we nearly always do different things for the different children. We will often state we do not love any child less than any other, we just love them differently. But in doing so, we may demonstrate loving one more than the other without realizing it.

Loving our children comes naturally to nearly all of us. We love each one’s personality, skills, talents, achievements, interests. We do our best to celebrate each one differently, yet equally. We may find that it becomes a struggle at times. One child may have a specific need during a certain period of their life, and we help them with it. Even though we may do the same thing for another child, if they were in the same situation, it can be misconstrued by our other children that we are showing favoritism.

We see in Scripture that Israel (Jacob) clearly loved Joseph more and made him a brilliant coat. Scripture also explains why Israel loved him more. For Jacob had loved Rachel first and had to work twice as long to have her father give her to him for a wife. For Laban, Rachel’s father, had given Leah to Jacob first since she was the oldest. Additionally, Rachel struggled to become pregnant, but finally had Joseph, then his younger brother Benjamin. Jacob, perhaps inadvertently, made his other children jealous of Joseph. Our lesson in this is to carefully consider how we show our love for our children.

I pray we all love our children deeply. I pray we show our love to all our children. I pray each one of us consider carefully how we show our love so that we do not inadvertently show partialism. Love your children. Show your love to your children. Do not show partiality.

Genesis 37:3-4 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children because he was the son of his old age, and he made him an ornamented robe. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.