Mercy

Whatever Happened to Mercy?

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy Matthew 5:7

Whatever happened to mercy in our political arena and in our community? Where is forgiveness clearly messaged towards people who don’t agree with us, live up to our standards or fit in with our tight knit circle? When we are anxious to pick up stones to throw at people we might want to be careful of whom we hit. The person who is today’s vicious opponent may one day become a missionary like Paul. The liar we contend with at work could one day become a pillar of our church like Peter. Skeptics who question all we believe in could one day be like Thomas who traveled all the way to India bringing the message of the gospel!

Looking at racism, looting, and violence it is easy to begin to feel that some of those people really don’t deserve mercy. But that misses the point. Mercy cannot be deserved! Mercy is the attitude that reflects the undeserved second chance that God has given to anyone who comes to Him. Mercy is the action that says there is always hope for someone else’s life. Especially for we who call ourselves Christians, mercy should always be our first response rather than our last resort. Jesus teaches us that mercy unlocks God’s blessing. There is still hope for God’s blessing on our community because of mercy. No one is too far away for God to reach. God’s mercy can reach every hard angry and rebellious heart … even our own!

Photo by Rodolfo Clix on Pexels.com

New Sunrise – New Mercy

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning Lamentations 3:22

Did you ever stop to think that while the sun sets on this side of the earth it is rising on the other? At the same time that the sun is setting on one day it is is about to dawn on another. In the midst of this current world wide pandemic or in the middle of a personal crisis we may find ourselves at a dead end, but God does not. He never runs out of new ideas a new sunrise or new mercy.  One of the greatest promises in the Bible is God’s mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s mercies are always new and have not altered over time. They have no expiration date! God isn’t worn out from trying to get His mission accomplished and He never changes.  So even if it feels as if the sun is setting on all your hopes and dreams; God’s mercies are ever new and His new mercy is promised on your horizon. 

P1010081

 

Father Forgive

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.   Luke 23:34 KJV

 

Whenever the president goes about nominating anyone for service in the government he makes up what people often refer to as a short list of names. These are the most qualified, smartest and powerful folks available. Add to those qualities the need of their having no embarrassing past, no criminal record or financial entanglements. Only after the best of the best have been narrowed down is the final the choice made. The good news for us is that God works in a different manner. His short list of candidates included corrupt politicians like Pilate; condemned criminals like the thieves being crucified with him and even a disciple named Peter who had denied him three times. Our greatest hope in the promise of Easter is in the forgiveness of sins that Jesus offers. We are as far from God as the soldiers who nailed His hands to the cross and Jesus reaches out to all of us in His prayer.

1564393271963_verse_image.jpg

Do you feel far from God’s plans for your life? Do you feel hopelessly tangled in a lifestyle that is leading you away from Him? The best news in the universe is; even if you had been one of those who gathered the thorns that were plaited into His crown, He would still want you as His child!