July 24, 2014

"Blessed are the merciful for they will obtain mercy." Matthew 5:7

So, how do I become a more merciful person?

Jesus gives us a good insight in His rebuke to the religious leaders:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!" Matthew 23:23-24

Jesus' indictment of these Pharisees and scribes was their tendency to "major on the minors" and "minor on the majors". In His words they, "neglected the weightier matters" such as justice, mercy and faith. They were making rules and religion more important than relationships.

They set their standard of judgement at the level of their own "self-righteousness" and had little mercy for others who didn't measure up. I guarantee you that if you measure your worth by the unworthiness of others you will have little room for mercy.

This portion of Scripture is an example of the humor of Christ. He is shaming them through this ridiculous image of "straining gnats while swallowing a camel". 

His point is they had become so focused on keeping the finer points of the law they lost touch with the spirit of the law - LOVE. They extended mercy to themselves and judged others harshly.

When Jesus calls us to mercy He is calling us to be merciless toward our own weaknesses and extend mercy to others.

Have you ever lost your faith focus?

Have you ever found yourself straining gnats?

Have you allowed yourself to get caught up in self-righteous judgments?

A good example of this idea is Jesus story of the Good Samaritan. The religious people walked past the injured man because they were focused on their "religious obligations". They didn't have time for mercy because they were on a mission. 

But along came a despised half-breed Samaritan who stopped to care for the suffering Jew. After administering first-aid, he then tenderly lifted the man onto his donkey and carried him to a place where he could be cared for, promising to cover the cost of his recovery.

Why do you think the "non-religious" Samaritan showed mercy while the religious Jews neglected mercy?

Could it be he was mindful of mercy because he received so little mercy himself? 

Will you search your heart and ask God to give you a heart of mercy?

When you put mercy in the company of justice and faith it elevates its status! Mercy must be something that pleases God and it needs to be important to you!

July 22, 2014

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

One of the principles that has guided my pastoral ministry is this truth, "Hurting people hurt people." 

If you have spent more than a couple of days on Planet Earth you have been hurt by a hurting person or you have been guilty of hurting others in your painful periods.

Are you hurting? Are you suffering through a painful period of life?

Do you live with a hurting person? If so, you probably are hurting over not being able to help them plus the pain they inflict upon you by their hurtful behavior.

So, one of the challenges of ministry in a local church congregation is dealing with hurting people. The first challenge is, "How do I keep them from hurting others within the church?" and the second challenge is, "How do I help them deal with their pain?"

Fortunately, Jesus addresses this touchy topic in the fifth Beatitude and the answer will surprise you.

The word for "merciful" in the original language has the idea of being empathetic with the pain of others. Rather than hurting back when someone hurts you, try to understand his pain so you can be helpful to him.

I know that is counter-intuitive to our human nature, but think about the alternative. If you are hurt by a hurting person and you respond by hurting back it only escalates and intensifies the pain.

So, here is how this beatitude can be expressed in daily living, "when you get grief, give grace". When a hurting person hurts you, look for a way to help him.

Mercy is what God shows you and me. Mercy is the flip-side of grace. Grace gives kindness that isn't deserved and mercy withholds punishment that is deserved. Mercy was God withholding with wrath and judgment from us and grace was Jesus taking that wrath upon Himself.

Grace and mercy are the perfect resources for surviving in a world of hurting people. But, they are only available from the Holy Spirit through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Do you need mercy for today?

Jesus has it to give! Get Jesus and you get mercy!

July 23, 2014

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

I have always thought of myself as a good-hearted guy, but now I have scientific evidence to prove it.

As a result of the two day battery of medical tests on my heart, I can now document that my heart is good in every way!

Praise God!

In the Beatitudes Jesus gives you eight traits of a good heart. The trait I am dealing with this week is being merciful.

A simple and practical way of thinking about mercy is "giving grace when you are given grief" or you can say it is "being helpful to someone who is trying to be hurtful to you".

Mercy withholds justice and responds with grace. Jesus told a story that illustrated mercy:

"Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Matthew 18:21-35

One servant gives a great look at what it looks like to be merciful and the other servant is referred to as "unmerciful".

Which servant had a good heart?

Which servant is most like you?

Where do you need to show mercy?

July 21, 2014

“I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me. Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. I cry to you, LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.”   Psalms 142

So, here you are in a dark, damp, desolate, disgusting cave and you don’t like it. You feel like you are trapped because you are. That's how commitment works, which is why you need to work on your commitments.  So when you feel trapped and you don't like the feeling what do you do?

The Psalmist could have given up and turned Himself in to the King and hope for mercy. He could have killed the King and do away with his enemy. But His commitment to His God would allow Him to do neither. So he decided to bear the consequences of His commitment to serve God, even though it was terrible in the cave.

You do what David did:

Complain - “I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.”

You don’t have to like it in the cave. Who would? David was innocent. He had done nothing to deserve being hunted down like a stray dog, but he had managed to get on the wrong side of an insecure king.

I imagine it would be hard enough to be public enemy number one if you were guilty but it is very unfair to be totally innocent but still have your life totally disrupted.

Pour out your complaint to the Lord. But when you complain, don’t curse the Lord or don’t accuse the Lord. When you complain, let it out and get it over with – keep it short.

Cry – “Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name.”

Being trapped in a cave and having your life completely disrupted is very difficult. Long dark lonely nights in a damp cave can take an emotional toll on a person. The natural way to release emotional pain is to cry out. The Psalmist cried out.

I can think of another innocent Man Who was brutally treated and cried out to God in His agony. His Name was Jesus and He was the Son of God, Who became your Savior. He cried out from the Cross and complained to His Father.

Frankly, most people these days, including Christians bail on their commitments at this point. When they are feeling trapped and life is very uncomfortable they "cave in" rather than stand true to their commitment.

David cried and complained in the cave but did not cave on his commitment. Jesus cried and complained on the Cross but He did not cave-in. How about you? Are you feeling trapped and thinking about caving in on a commitment? This is where character is built and integrity shows. What will you do?

Calm Down and Connect - "LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Once the Psalmist dealt with his ragged emotions and calmed down, he fixed his focus back on His God and reconnected with his faith. He remembered why he had committed to God in the first place. Just when he felt like getting out he got back in. The good news is that when we can't leave the cave, God can come to us! He can comfort and encourage and strengthen so we don't cave in on our commitments.

If you have been feeling trapped in a faith commitment or a family commitment or a financial commitment - you don't have to cave in. The Psalmist proves it!

July 20, 2014

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

I haven't met a person who doesn't want to be right. I have met many who do not care about being righteous. 

Righteousness is being in a right relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. That relationship is a result of recognizing your utter spiritual corruption, repenting with a broken heart, submitting to His control over your life and then craving the infilling of His righteousness.

How are you to know if you have received His righteousness? His righteousness will become evident in four ways; you will become merciful, you will become pure of heart, you will become a peacemaker and you will suffer persecution.

So, a righteous person is a merciful person. How does that happen and what does it look like?

"The key to becoming a merciful person is to become a broken person. You get the power to show mercy from the real feeling in your heart that you owe everything you are and have to sheer divine mercy. Therefore, if we want to become merciful people, it is imperative that we cultivate a view of God and ourselves that helps us to say with all our heart that every joy and virtue and distress of our lives is owing to the free and undeserved mercy of God." - John Piper -

Righteousness is a function of God's grace. Grace is what God gives you that you do not deserve (salvation/righteousness). There is no possible way you could ever attain to the righteousness required to please God. You can only receive that righteousness as a gift from God through Christ.

Mercy is the flip side of grace. While grace is getting what you don't deserve from God mercy is NOT getting what you DO deserve from God (judgment and wrath).

So, every righteous person who ever has or ever will enter the Kingdom of God enters by His grace and His mercy.

How should one respond after having unworthily received the grace and mercy of God? Should he not extend that same mercy and grace to others?

In short, if you are merciful it proves you have been made righteous. 

Is there someone to whom you should extend mercy?

July 19, 2014

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." Matthew 5:6

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is painting a verbal picture of what His Kingdom will look like.

In the Beatitudes He sets the qualifications of the people who will populate the Kingdom.

The first issue that must be dealt with for those who aspire to the Kingdom is the issue of sin. How does that happen?

First, you must confront the truth about your evil human nature. You are a sinner by nature and your sin separates you from God and it brings you under His judgment. 

Second, understanding your sinful state should bring you to repentance. Sin must always break your heart and you should never allow yourself to become casual about sinning.

Third, your brokenness over your sin should lead you to place your will under His control. You cannot control sin but He can!

Once you have been emptied of your sin and self you can crave His righteousness like a starving man craves food and a thirsty man craves water.

How does that happen? Remember this acrostic:

C - Commit Yourself to His Righteousness

The first three Beatitudes are very clear, you have no righteousness of your own. Jesus and Jesus alone can impart His righteousness to you. You will know you have received it when you crave more of His righteousness!

R - Reprioritize Your Life

Build time and margins in your life that will make it possible for you to receive His righteousness and live it our in your daily walk.

A - Anchor Your Life In the Truth of His Word

God's Word determines what is right for you. Righteousness is not a multiple choice option. What God's Word says is right is what is right for you! 

V - Void and Avoid Unrighteousness

Determine to get rid of unrighteous behaviors, attitudes and thoughts so you have room to receive His righteousness. Daily determine to avoid willful sin in thought, word or deed.

E - Expect God to Fill You

God's promises are a covenant. When you do your part He will do His. When you rid your life of your sin and crave His righteousness - He will fill you up!

Craving His righteousness?

C.R.A.V.E. it, and you will be filled!

July 18, 2014

No doubt you have been following the developments on the border where some estimates say as many as 300,000 people from Central America from have crossed the into U. S. since October 2013. Currently there are some 50,000+ Central American children illegally entered into the United States. As you know this has created a crisis due to lack of resources to house them, feed them and care for them. Most Americans have compassion for them and yet few Americans want them to be brought to their town. Since thousands of these aliens are under the age of 18 and have come without parents and without valid identifications, it is difficult to know what to do with these poor children who are alone and far from home.

How do we as Christians in America respond to this overwhelming need?

These aliens are in our nations as a result of lawlessness. There is the lawlessness of our government for not enforcing our borders or our immigration laws and the lawlessness of those who crossed the borders illegally. If we give money and resources to aid the crisis created by this lawlessness won’t that just going to encourage more lawlessness?

What IS our responsibility to these hungry people, mostly kids, who have risked their lives to cross several countries to come into the United States for the same freedoms and opportunity that we Americans enjoy? There is evidence that they were lured to our southern border by implied promises of immunity from our government. Given that, who can blame them?

We Christians are commanded to submit to the governmental authority of the nation where we live. But as lawlessness increases and respect for the law decreases we must stay committed to the clearly articulated laws we ARE sure of – God’s law as revealed in His Word.

According to God’s law, here is how the people of God are called to respond:

“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. ’Then the righteous^* will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”  Matthew 25:34-40

Wesleyan officials are at the border meeting with Federal, State and Local officials to assess the situation and ascertain the most appropriate ways to respond. We will be hearing from them soon and when we do we can decide the best way for us to get involved.