Wednesday 9 March 2016

Mercy

Mercy
“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!” 
                              James 2:12,13.
Do you show mercy to those around you?
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
                                                                                                            Francis of Assisi.
All the time in the media here in North America I hear preachers and evangelist screaming about the sins of the world. They say they are coming against the sin but loving the sinner.
The sinner however doesn’t see it like that. When they see someone attacking the sin their life, especially if it’s a sin they like, they see the attack on the sin as a personal attack on them.
You cannot win anyone to Christ by criticizing their life and lifestyle.
We need to be showing love. The apostle Paul tell us,
“Love is patient, love is kind. 
It does not envy, it does not boast, 
it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 
it is not easily angered, 
it keeps no record of wrongs. 
Love does not delight in evil
 but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, 
always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails....” 
                                                                              1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.
All too many people have been pushed away for God by well meaning people who keep pointing out the sin in a persons life.
We need to remember the word of Francis of Assisi who said,
“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 
                                                                                                      Francis of Assisi
The writer of Proverbs states,
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” 
                                                                                                              Proverbs 3:3,4.
It is only in showing Love to people that we will win them to the Lord. Jesus made it clear saying,
Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 
                       Matthew 7:1,2.
Jesus made things very clear when he said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
        Matthew 7:12.
As Christians before we speak we need to ask ourselves “are the words I am about to say to someone something I’d like to hear? Are my actions towards people truly nonjudgmental and truly showing love?”
Please think about it.

No comments: