Tag Archives: Mercy

Mercy

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We have been given so much mercy in our lives.  We have been given so much grace in our lives.  We have been given so many different ways that God has loved us, forgiven us, restored us, saved us.

We must never forget that. Seriously.  We must never, ever, ever forget what God has done for us and what He has forgiven us of. That must be our first song in the morning and our last thought at night.

We’ve been forgiven so very much.  We must forgive others.

We must.  Listen to what it says in Matthew 9:11-13 today:

And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

mercyWhat is the greatest act of worship that you can give to God today?

What is the greatest act of praise that you can give to God today?

What is the great sacrifice you can give to God today?

Mercy.

We have been shown mercy.  We have.

We must show mercy to others.  Today.

If you want to honor, worship, and serve God today, do this.  Show mercy.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

I Choose Grace

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I tell people, if I have to choose what side to err on, it’s going to be on the side of grace.  If I have to choose between mercy and the law, mercy and grace win every time.  Each time.

I am going to choose grace.  I am going to choose mercy.  I am going to choose relationships and people over, well, anything.  Why is that? Because that is the way that God operates.  And that is the way that I truly believe that He wants us to live. That is what I believe that God truly wants us to do and to live.

Listen to what the word says today in James 2:12-13:

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

graceMercy triumphs over judgement.  Mercy wins in the end.  In the end, it is mercy that God will show to us.  It is mercy, for those of us that are in Jesus Christ, that we will receive.

We haven’t earned it. We haven’t done anything that makes us worthy of it. We haven’t caused it happen.  It is simply given by a loving, merciful God, because of the work of His son Jesus on the cross.

We are given grace time after time after time after time.

Grace for our sins, for our mistakes for our stuff, for everything.  Grace.

That is God’s gift to you.  Grace.

Now, the challenge is this. What will we do with it?  You are loved.  You are sacred.  You are valued.  You are.

Now, how will you choose to use that grace given to you?  Will you give it others?  Will you forgive?  Will you show mercy?  Will you show grace to others?

Or will you choose judgement?

Today, I choose grace.  I will show grace to others. For, I have been shown grace by my loving God.  So I must show it others.

I choose grace.  Today, what about you?

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

What Grace Looks Like

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What does grace look like? Let’s look at what David does in 2 Samuel 9: 6-8 today and see.

And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”

royal-tableWhat happens here is this. David is now the king. And he wants to know if there is still someone from Saul’s family that is alive, so he can show them grace. But, wait, first remember what Saul tried to do to David repeatedly.

He tried to kill him. He threw speaks at him. He chased him around Israel. He did all in his power to kill him.

And now, as king, David wants to show kindness to a member of Saul’s family.

Why?

Well, David remembers his promise to Jonathan. He remembers his love for him, and he will honor his friend in this even though Jonathan’s dad (Saul) tried to kill him.

David will show grace.

Why? Because of his friendship with Jonathan. And because it’s what the people of God do. We have been given grace. We have been given mercy. We have been given forgiveness. We have been given so very much.

That we must give back. We must show it forth. We must give back to others out of the grace that we have been given.

David showed mercy to a man whose family tried to destroy him. He loved, because he had been loved by an awesome God.

That’s what grace looks like. To forgive when we don’t “have” to, to show mercy when there is no reason, and to see to show God’s love to all that meet each day.

That’s what grace look like.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones

Oh, You’re a Christian?

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A few weeks back, I read a blog post that’s stuck with me. It was entitled, oh, you’re a Christian? You can read it by clicking here. Basically its the story of two folks talking and one realizing that the other is a Christian, and being surprised by that.

Why were they surprised?

They said, you don’t seem judgmental enough.

That’s stuck with me a lot since I read it. I’ve referenced it in several sermons and teaching moments. It has really bothered me. Why?

How have we, as the followers of the One that is love, is mercy, is grace, how have we gone from being defined that mercy and grace, to being defined as being too judgmental.

Listen to what Jesus does today in Mark 2:15-17:

And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

wanted2The Word says that He ate with sinners and tax collectors. Those that were seen as less than, or not as good, not as holy, not as righteous. He ate with them. He loved them. He came for them.

He came for sinners.

Jesus Christ came for sinners. Of which I am the chief one.

We have got to be more graceful. How do we do that? Be remembering that we too are sinners that Jesus came to eat with. We too are sinners that Jesus came to save. We are not perfect. We are not superior.

We have to remember who we are. Remember how Jesus has loved us. And as saved us.

And love others in that way.

Today, may we seek to be like our savior. May we see to love everyone as He did. And may we seek to point others to His love and grace.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones

This World

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What are we do with those that doubt? What are we to with those that cause divisions? That cause trouble? That cause all manner of problems?

What are we, as Christians, as believers, as Christ followers, what are we to do with them? How should we feel?

How should we act?

What should we do?

Jude is one of my favorite books in the bible. It’s a book that is written to Christians in a time where they feel under attack. A book written to Christians to encourage them to stand strong, to hold onto their faith, but to be aware that the world will try to attack, destroy and mock their faith.

What does Jude tell Christian to do with “them” when we are under attack.

Listen to what it says in 17-23:

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

top_photoFirst – know “they” are coming. They will come causing division. It will happen. Jesus promised it will happen (John 15:18). Paul tells us it will happen. And here Jude shares with us that it will happen.

Be aware. Don’t be shocked. Don’t be stunned.

We were not promised a rose garden. In fact, just the opposite. We were promised trouble.

Second – build yourself up. If it’s going to be tough, we need to be strong. If we will face troubles, then we had better be ready for it.

Are you doing the things that will allow you to have strength in times of trouble? Are you praying? Are you reading your Bible? Are you going to Church? Are you building yourself up for these things?

And last – have mercy on those who doubt. Those who attack you, those who persecute you, those that mock you, those that despise you, you know what God wants to happen to them?

He wants them to get saved. He wants them as part of His kingdom. He wants them to be your brother or sister.

So, as Christians, our job is to have mercy. Even when it’s hard.

But, if we aren’t ready and aren’t prepared, we can’t.

This is the world we live in. That is what we can expect. Let’s not be surprised, let’s be ready, and let’s let His grace make all the difference.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Conviction

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shamehandsYou ever felt really convicted by God for something that you’ve done wrong? That’s called conviction. Conviction is when God’s spirit lays hold to our hearts and says – that is wrong.

Sometimes we feel conviction in a message that is preached.

Sometimes we feel it when we are reading the scripture or praying.

Sometimes we feel it after and action that we have done that is wrong.

Sometimes we just feel it. We just know that there’s an area of our life that we’ve got to change, that we’ve got to give to God, that we’ve got to make right.

And you know what? That’s as good thing. Listen to what Paul says today in 2 Corinthians 7:10-11:

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.

He says Godly grief (or conviction) produces repentance, which leads to salvation. This conviction is actually God’s way of drawing us closer to Himself. This Godly grief of conviction is God’s way of showing us the right path, showing us the way that we should walk, showing us what we should or should not do.

We need to, in our lives, feel that conviction, when we are wrong. Because that steers us right. That makes us right. That turns us right.

Today, in your life, where is that area that God has convicted of you? Where do you feel like is an area that God has pointed out that you need to give to Him?

That feeling of conviction? It is truly one of God’s greatest gifts to you. It is truly one of the ways that God draws you back to Himself.

Today, if you feel, thank Him for it. And all it to help you become more faithful!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Loved to Love Others

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God is in the business of making all things right. God is in the business of bringing restoration and hope and peace to lives, their lives, and lives.

God is the business of making all things right.

Listen to what Paul writes today in 2 Corinthians 5: 18:21:

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

love-God-love-others-titlePaul says that God, through Christ, has reconciled us to Himself. In other words through what Jesus has done for us on the cross and in the empty grave, God has, and is making all things right for us with Him.

There is grace. There is mercy. There is forgiveness for us in Christ. Today, there is the chance to start over, begin again, wake up to a fresh and new start.

Today, this is a new day.

But, then, look what he says – God has reconciled us, so that we can be God’s ambassadors. Today, it isn’t just that God want you to know mercy and freedom and grace and power.

It’s that God wants to use you to so that others can know His mercy and grace and power.

He loves us so that we can know love, and love others.

He forgives us so that we can know forgiveness, and forgive others.

He gives us life, so that we can help others know life.

Today, He is calling you into Himself, into love and life. And He calls us to live in church a way, full of grace and mercy, that others will want to know the God that we know!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

“Them”

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We really want to God to get “them” sometimes, don’t we?

After all, “they” are wrong. “They” should be punished. “They” deserve God’s judgement. He should get “them” for their sins and their mistakes.

That’s what we can think and believe. That’s what we can truly believe.

But, here is the thing. Jesus doesn’t just love us. He loves “them” too.

Listen to what happens in Luke 9:52:55:

And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them.

Fire_From_HeavenThey reject Jesus. And the disciples say, do, you want us to call down fire from above to consume them. Ok, two things here.

First, really James and John? You think that you can call down fire from above? Really? Like that’s your job? We should be very careful when getting ready to call down the fire of God’s judgement. That’s not our job.

Second, if they had stopped to think, they would have realized that Jesus came to save “them.” And us as well. Cause here’s the thing, it isn’t just “them” that make mistakes and fall down. It’s us too.

Today, let’s remember that we are not the judge of the world. That’s leave that to God. Let’s stop calling down fire. And lets, instead, turn to the one thing that can truly change lives.

Love.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

What I am Thankful For

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300px-StJohnsAshfield_StainedGlass_GoodShepherd_Dk_FaceThere’s a lot of things that we can be thankful for in regards to our faith.

We can be thankful for the goodness of God. We can be thankful for all the good things in life that God gives us, for the Bible tells us that all good gifts from God.

We can be thankful for the truth of God in scripture. In prayer. In worship.

We can be thankful for His grace and mercy that He gives when we fall down and ask for help.

We can be thankful for His peace that gives. For His hope. For His joy. For His strength.

All these are things that we can list on our things that we are thankful for. And they are good things. But, today, let me tell you what I am most thankful for. Listen to the words of Hebrews 4:14-16:

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

It’s that phrase in verse 15. “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness.” I am thankful that Jesus understands.

The word tells us that Jesus was fully God and fully human. And in that, He is able to understand our temptation, for He was tempted as we are. He understands our hurts, as He was hurt. He understands our tears, as He cried. He understands us.

And it isn’t just that He understands, but He has sympathy. He has compassion. He has grace for us.

He lived as we live, walked as we walked. He understands. No matter what it is, right now, Jesus understands.

He is not uncaring towards your hurts, pains and loss. He understands. He cares. He is there.

That is what I am thankful for. Jesus understands what we are going through.

And He never gives up on us.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Those Forgiven Much

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Forgiven & LovedWe talked yesterday at Asbury about forgiveness. Forgiveness really is the one thing that makes relationships possible. It’s the thing that makes faith possible. It’s the thing that makes love possible.

Without forgiveness, there would not be much hope for anything that is good in life. Forgiveness makes it all possible.

We are all going to be hurt at some point. We are all going to be wronged at some point. We are all going to be in a position where we have to choose to forgive or not. And it’s tough. And we can’t do it on our own.

We can’t “will” ourselves to forgive. We can’t just “make” ourselves do it. It’s something that only God can do though us. Listen to the words that Jesus speaks today in Luke 7:47-48:

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus forgives a woman, and He talks about since she is forgiven, she loves. And then He says, he who is forgiven little loves little.

Those of us that have been forgiven much, we should love so much more. We can’t truly forgive, we can’t truly love, we can’t truly do any of these things until we know this one true fact.

We are forgiven. You are forgiven. God loves you, wants to know you, wants to spend time with you. You are forgiven.

You are loved.

Now, love others. Our forgiveness for others flows from our forgiveness from God. Those who are forgiven much will love much.

Today, as those that have been forgiven so very much, may we love so very much.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.