June 6, 2008

• Lean Towards Mercy in Life

  "It is impossible to risk your life to make others glad in God if you are an unforgiving person.  If you are wired to see other people's faults and failures and offenses, and treat them roughly, you will not take risks for their joy.  This wiring--and it is universal in all human beings--must be dismantled.  We will not gladly risk to make people glad in God if we hate them, or hold grudges against them, or are repelled by their faults and foibles.  We must become forgiving people."
            "Don't start raising objections about the hard cases.  I am talking about a spirit, not a list of criteria for when we do this or that.  Nor am I talking about wimpy grace that can't rebuke or discipline or fight.  The question is, do we lean toward mercy?  Do we default to grace?  Do we have a forgiving spirit?  Without it we will walk away from need and waste our lives."  --John Piper

  It is so hard to re-wire ourselves so that we are not treating people roughly because they don't match up to what is "normal."  Shame on us for trying to put people in cookie cutters; people are different with many personalities.  We need to be leaning towards mercy and see the needs that are there in a person's life and meet those needs with mercy.  This does not free the person of rebuke and correction; but we need to learn to rebuke and instruct with grace, kindness, wisdom, and tact.  I know we can't do this on our own strength; so let us rely upon the One whose mercy is everlasting.  Read the Psalm below and rejoice in the power of God and the provision of God's mercy in our lives to help us show mercy to others.

  Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
       For His mercy endures forever.
  Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
       For His mercy endures forever.
  Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
       For His mercy endures forever: 
           
  To Him who alone does great wonders,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  To Him who made great lights,
       For His mercy endures forever—
  The sun to rule by day,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  The moon and stars to rule by night,
       For His mercy endures forever. 
           
  To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  And brought out Israel from among them,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  To Him who divided the Red Sea in two,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  And made Israel pass through the midst of it,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  To Him who led His people through the wilderness,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  To Him who struck down great kings,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  And slew famous kings,
       For His mercy endures forever—
  Sihon king of the Amorites,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  And Og king of Bashan,
       For His mercy endures forever—
  And gave their land as a heritage,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  A heritage to Israel His servant,
       For His mercy endures forever. 
           
  Who remembered us in our lowly state,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  And rescued us from our enemies,
       For His mercy endures forever;
  Who gives food to all flesh,
       For His mercy endures forever. 
           
  Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!
       For His mercy endures forever.
            (Psalm 136 NKJV)

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