Short Devotion: Mercy Me - Matthew 5v7

 

Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” (ESV)

            When I celebrate Communion at the church, one of the main areas that I focus on comes when the celebrant says: “O Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.” It is one of the most meaningful points in the sacrament because it reminds me of how much the gift of mercy is an essential part of Christ’s ministry. At that sacred moment, I know that I am a sinful creature in need of God’s grace, so when I hear those beautiful words, I am both ashamed and assured at the same time: I am ashamed because of my past sins; I am assured because of God’s great mercy.

            But mercy just isn’t personally given to me because I am in need of forgiveness; it’s also a gift which I am meant to share. After being forgiven, I could fall into the temptation of being merciless to those around me. My self-righteous holiness could make me judgmental of others who are struggling with their own sins, or issues, or problems. Instead of seeing them as folks who need God’s mercy and love just as much as I do, I could be morally blinded by my pride into thinking that they deserve what they get, or that I’ve experienced the same issues and have risen above them, so why can’t they do the same?

            Jesus taught us many things with words, but He also applied His teaching with deeds. If we think about when He was nailed to the cross, He didn’t curse those who were killing Him, but instead He pleaded with His Father to forgive them – a divine act of mercy that makes the cross not a terrible instrument of death, but an everlasting symbol of forgiveness, grace, and life.

            So, next time we’re celebrating Communion, perhaps we would do well to ponder on how much God’s mercy comes to us through Christ and then think about how we could show and share that mercy with other people who are struggling, too.

Q: How has God been merciful to me? Did I deserve such a gift? How can I apply mercy to others?

Prayer: O Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us Your peace. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s Good Friday drawings called “Faraway Hill.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Faraway Hill.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to see what the church is doing, check out the website at www.erinpres.org

Mercy Triumphs - James 2:12-13

James 2:12-13             Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

            Most Facebook users enjoy sharing their thoughts, photos, and ideas with their friends and families. From time to time, however, after posting a picture or writing a statement, other folks weigh in with negative opinions or add their own uninvited two cents worth of criticism. The original post ends up being forgotten and a whole thread of comments, dialogue, and arguments hijacks the entire conversation. This usually disheartens the original poster who sometimes ends up having to delete the initial post in order to curtail the conversational conflict and divisive dialogue. It seems that judging or criticizing others is a full-time occupation for some folks on Facebook and it can be very easy to be drawn into a spiral of embittered words and strong opinions by them.

            As Christians, we sometimes find it hard to avoid these conflicts, especially when politics and religion get thrown into the mix. Pastors are not shielded from this either; instead of being peacemakers, we can end up becoming shakers and breakers in an online debate.

            When the Apostle James was writing his letter to the young Christian churches in the First century, they didn’t have Facebook, but most of the Roman, Greek, and Jewish people loved to argue and criticize others who did not live up to their standards. James reminded the new followers of Christ that their salvation depended on God’s mercy, so rather than judge other people for their mistakes, opinions, or choices, Christians were expected to show forgiveness and mercy.

            This week, we will probably encounter folks who may antagonize us in person, public, or on Facebook. The temptation to get even is great, but the expectation to be gracious should be greater. No person will ever be won for Christ by arguing, but some folks will be drawn to Christ by the gifts of mercy and grace from His followers.

Question for reflection

How do I display Christ’s grace and mercy to other folks?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, grant us the gifts of Your grace and mercy in our lives, so we may honor You by passing on those blessings to the people we will meet, work, and be with this week. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is an old Holy Week drawing of John’s depicting mercy. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Mercy.