Just as your Father
Jesus said,
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
Mercy according to the Oxford dictionary is "compassion or forgiveness shown towards an enemy or offender in one's power."
Throughout my years in church work I have heard from various individuals that I shouldn’t associate with “certain people” because they are sinners. Those individuals were WRONG. And were sinners themselves. They were sinners because they judged others. Jesus saying,
Judge not, that you be not Judged
"For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2
Paul writing to the romans stating,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.
Matthews Gospel records,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners'?"
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:15-17.
Jesus is the ultimate doctor. Healing the soul. His call is,
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.
Jesus associated with everyone irrespective of who they were or their status in society. And we are called to do as he did.
If we don’t take to Gospel message to the world who will?
Billy Graham the late American evangelist said,
"It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict,
God's job to judge
and my job to love,"
Billy Graham.
It is our job as Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus to present the gospel to all people without judging them. Jesus saying,
"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20.
The only way we can do this is showing love and mercy to those around us.
Please think about it.
