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

A Simple Gift - Jeremiah 31:19

Jeremiah 31:19 ‘After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’ (NIV)

            I think most of us, if not all of us, remember things from our youth that we later regret or still make us feel embarrassed. We may have had some great times with our friends and peers, but there were probably some moments when we were careless or headstrong, uncaring or arrogant which led us to do something that was stupid, painful, or humiliating. Sometimes memories of those occasions will just pop into our minds and we will feel the sting of shame or the remorse of something we know hurt or humiliated someone else. And, as the years go by, those memories can still unsettle us emotionally, as well as spiritually.

            For me, during those moments of regret, I find myself asking for God’s forgiveness and grace. I can’t do anything to change the past, but through Christ’s mercy, I can stop myself being chained to the past. This process is called repentance in the Bible and it involves turning away from what occurred by turning toward God for forgiveness, healing, and restoration. It’s a wonderful gift that God grants to all of us because His Son Jesus procured that process for us by dying on the Cross for our mistakes and sins.

            Today, whatever guilt you are carrying or regrets that you are battling with, please know this: all can be forgiven and our connection to God can be restored. We only have to turn to God, ask for His mercy, and be accepted by His Son. It’s a very simple process and a liberating experience.

Point to ponder

Is there something in my past which still deeply troubles me? Am I willing to bring it to God and seek His grace?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know everything about us, so we cannot hide our past from You. Inside of ourselves, we carry regret, guilt, and shame. Help us to sincerely repent of these things and receive the blessings of Your forgiveness, mercy, and grace. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Pentecost drawings called “Spirit of Brian.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Spirit.