How You View God's Mercy

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

How you view God's mercy is a major factor in what he is allowed to do in your life.

Is that not the gist of what Paul is saying in this text?

If you view mercy as something you deserve, you will probably not be able to receive it. If you think you deserve it you don't understand what mercy really is nor do you understand you spiritual need.

If you view mercy as something you have to earn you will not be able to receive it. Mercy must be given and received within the context of a relationship. Relationships are built they aren't earned.

If you view mercy as something you desperately need then you will be likely to ask God for mercy. When you cry out to God for mercy you will move Him to have mercy on you.

When you view mercy as something God provided for you in the past through the atoning death of Jesus and by His resurrection you are on the right track! You will view His mercy as something you need and want.

You will want to offer your body to God to be a living sacrifice and He will transform you by the renewing of your mind!

When you view mercy as something you have available to you in the present - right now as you read this article - you might want to pause and thank Him for His mercy!

When you view mercy as something you will always have in Christ then you can live in humble assurance and hope!

So, how you view God's mercy is a game-changer (or should I say a life-changer?) Allow me to bring more mercies into your view!

"But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."  Romans 3:21-26

June 26, 2018

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." 

Living in Virginia we are abundantly blessed with amazing breath-taking views. A drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway will provide you with stunning views in every direction! But if you head just a couple of hours to the east you will find a view of the Atlantic Ocean or the Chesapeake Bay that will soothe your soul!

Growing up in Northern Indiana the view I had was of corn fields, soybean fields, hog farms, lakes, basketball hoops, blizzards and an occasional tornado. 

The point of view I was surrounded with as a youngest was a conservative Christian viewpoint.

As you shopped for your dream house you looked for a house with the best view you could afford!

What you view and your point of view significantly shapes your life! It will shape what you value. It will shape how you think. It will shape your priorities. It will bias your decisions. 

So, where do you fix your view?

What shapes your view?

No, wonder Paul writes, "In view of God's mercies." He is recognizing the importance of living in a constant awareness of how merciful your God was, how merciful He is and how merciful He will always be! 

After all, your best assurance of what God can do or what He will do is what He has done! So your view of God's mercy matters! It matters a lot!

June 25, 2018

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

Five words are the hinge between the first eleven chapters of Romans and chapter 12. Those words are "in view of God's mercy".

The first eleven chapters of Romans are a detailed teaching in the doctrines of salvation but Romans 12 changes from doctrine to DOctrine as it illustrates what it looks like to live out these doctrines in daily life. There is a marked change from theology to "walkology" from what a Christian must believe to how a Christian must live.

In verses 1 and 2 Paul tells us why a Christ-follower should live what he believes (in view of God's mercy) and then illustrated how that happens (be transformed by the renewing of your mind).

Offering anything that is yours to someone else is hard. It isn't natural. Face it, you are naturally a taker not a giver. So what would motivate you to not only give something but to give everything? That would need to be a powerful motivation, correct?

Can you think of a more powerful motivation than the mercies of God? In view of all that God has done for you through His Son, Jesus Christ how can you not want to give yourself to Him?

I think what Paul is urging here is that you focus your attention, your "view", steadfastly on all that God has done for you and provided for you through Christ! 

In case you need to be reminded of God's mercies go back and read the first eleven chapters of Romans! If you don't have time to do that just read Chapter 8! You will be powerfully reminded of God's mercies! And if you have to read that chapter every day in order to be reminded of His mercies then do it! If you can memorize much of that chapter then do it!

Why not turn over there right now and REview God's mercy?

June 24, 2018

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

God's mercy is a big deal! A really big deal! And Paul emphasizes that truth by crafting Romans 12 around this great attribute of God!

God's mercy is the often overshadowed other brother of His grace!

This morning I want to share some insightful and inspiring quotes from the great A.W. Tozer on worship:

"As mercy is God's goodness confronting human misery and guilt, so grace is his goodness directed toward human debt and demerit."

"Don't allow false modesty,doubts or unbelief prevent you from accepting God's favor. The door of mercy stands wide open."

"We get the odd notion that God is showing mercy because Jesus died. No. Jesus died because God is showing mercy."

"When Jesus died on the cross the mercy of God did not become any greater. It could not become any greater, for it was already infinite. We get the odd notion that God is showing mercy because Jesus died. No--Jesus died because God is showing mercy. It was the mercy of God that gave us Calvary, not Calvary that gave us mercy. If God had not been merciful there would have been no incarnation, no babe in the manger, no man on a cross and no open tomb."

Does that give you a better view of God's mercy?

Here is a prayer from A.W. Tozer in closing:

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, ‘Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.’ Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.

Amen!

June 23, 2018

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

I am increasingly thankful I followed the prompting of the Holy Spirit to spend the Summer preaching from Romans 12!

This chapter has significantly shaped my life as a follower of Christ! Coming back to study it again this Summer reminds me there is SO much more from this transformational Scripture that God wants to teach me!

Recently I have been drawn to the mention of God's mercy. Paul says, "Therefore....." That conjunction ties what he is about to say with what he has already said. So, to fully appreciate what he is about to teach us we much review what he has already taught since pure doctrine is truth built upon truth! 

Here is a summary of some of the "therefores" that you are urged to keep in view:

Examples of God’s mercy:

·  God credits us righteousness apart from works (3:22; 4:6)

·  God offers us justification and redemption (3:24)

·  Jesus’ sacrifice provides atonement (3:25)

·  God takes judgment on himself (3:25; 4:25)

·  God is forbearing and patience with us (3:25)

·  Our transgressions are forgiven and sins covered (4:7)

·  Our sins are not counted against us (4:8)

·  God gives spiritual life to the spiritually dead (4:17)

·  God makes peace between us and him (5:1)

·  God poured his love into our hearts (5:5)

·  He has given us the Holy Spirit (5:5)

·  God demonstrated his love for us while we were still in open rebellion against him (5:8)

·  He saved us from his wrath (5:9)

·  He reconciled us to himself (5:11)

·  He gives us eternal life (5:21; 6:23; 8:11)

·  He provides an overflowing and abundant provision of grace (5:15,17)

·  God has allowed us to die to sin (6:2)

·  God gives us new life (6:4)

·  He allows us to bear fruit (7:4)

·  He frees us from condemnation (8:1)

·  He makes us his children, heirs of God, co-heirs with Christ (8:17-17)

·  God shares his glory with us (8:17)

·  The Holy Spirit intercedes for us (8:26-27)

·  God works for our good (8:28)

·  He conforms us to his likeness (8:29)

·  He is for us (8:31)

·  God doesn’t bring charges against us (8:33)

·  God provides his love from which we can never be separated (8:35-39)

·  God saves all who call on him (10:13)

·  He allows those who do not seek him to find him (10:20)

·  He offers us his kindness (11:22)

·  God gives us irrevocable calls and gifts (11:29)

Mercy is the often overlooked little brother of grace!

Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve!

Mercy is God sparing us from what we do deserve!

If you are thankful for grace be grateful for mercy!

What Sort Of Friend Are You?

"As  iron  sharpens  iron,  so  one man sharpens another."  Proverbs 27:17

Miss Thompson taught Teddy Stallard in the fourth grade. He was a slow, unkempt student, a loner shunned by his classmates. The previous year his mother died, and what little motivation for school he may have once had was now gone. Miss Thompson didn’t particularly care for Teddy either, but at Christmas time he brought her a small present. Her desk was covered with well-wrapped presents from the other children, but Teddy’s came in a brown sack. When she opened it there was a gaudy rhinestone bracelet with half the stones missing and a bottle of cheap perfume. The children began to snicker but Miss Thompson saw the importance of the moment. She quickly splashed on some perfume and put on the bracelet, pretending Teddy had given her something special. At the end of the day Teddy worked up enough courage to softly say, "Miss Thompson, you smell just like my mother and her bracelet looks real pretty on you too. I’m glad you like my presents."

After Teddy left, Miss Thompson got down on her knees and prayed for God’s forgiveness. She prayed for God to use her as she sought to not only teach these children but to love them as well

She became a new teacher. She lovingly helped students like Teddy, and by the end of the year he had caught up most of the students.

Miss Thompson didn’t hear from Teddy for a long time. Then she received this note: "Dear Miss Thompson, I wanted you to be the first to know. I will be graduating second in my class. Love, Teddy Stallard." Four years later she got another note: "Dear Miss Thompson, They just told me I will be graduating first in my class. I wanted you to be the first to know. The university has not been easy, but I liked it. Love, Teddy Stallard." Four years later: "Dear Miss Thompson, As of today, I am Theodore Stallard, M.D. How about that? I wanted you to be the first to know. I am getting married next month. I want you to come and sit where my mother would sit if she were alive. You are the only family I have now; Dad died last year. Love, Teddy Stallard." Miss Thompson went to the wedding and sat where Teddy’s mother would have sat, because she let God use her as an instrument of encouragement.

That's a wise friend!

She encouraged Teddy!

She exhorted Teddy!

She empowered Teddy!

What sort of friend are you?

What sort of friends do you have?

June 21, 2018

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17

A wise friend is one who "rubs you the right way" and sharpens you as a friend and as a believer.

Friends sharpen one another by encouraging, by exhorting and by empowering.

Here are some ways that empowerment happens:

FEAR CAN EMPOWER

We typically think of fear as a negative emotion or the antithesis of faith. But fear can create tremendous motivation for you. For example, a healthy fear of disobeying God can motivate you to obey Him.

This humorous story illustrates the power of fear:

Late one night, a man had gone to a party and had too much to drink, so he decided it would be best to walk home. He found a shortcut through a poorly lit cemetery and, in the darkness, stumbled into an open grave. He tried to climb out but the walls were too slippery. Again and again he fell back into the grave.

Finally, in exhaustion, he settled in a corner to wait for sunlight.

A few minutes later, another man in the same condition was cutting through the cemetery and fell victim to the same grave. He, too, tried desperately to climb and claw his way out, and he was equally unsuccessful.

As he was about to give up in hopeless resignation, he heard a voice from the darkness of his pit: "You may as well give up. You’ll never get out of here."

But he did!

FAITH CAN EMPOWER

Remember learning to ride a bike or the first time you jumped off the diving board? You no doubt found the courage from the coaxing of a parent assuring you, "Come on! You can do it! I'm right here! I will help you!"

The four words, "You can do it!" or "I believe in you!" from a significant person have amazing power in the life of another! By means of your faith you can speak faith into another! You can believe in them and for them until they are able to believe themselves.

Faith is powerful!

LOVE CAN EMPOWER

You will do things for love that you woudn't do for money. That is the power of love!

Who would ever change a dirty diaper except for love?

Who would ever go to war except for love of country and love of freedom.

Love inspires and emboldens and empowers both the one who loves and the one loved.

Sometimes the love that empowers is tough love!

I had to give my grandson some tough love and call him out in a certain area. Though it was a little hard for him to hear, he received it and made some changes. Later, he even thanked me for challenging him and asked me to continue calling out the best in him.

I will! I love him!

He will continue to receive it! He loves me!

Wisdom forms a firm foundation for friendship because it encourages and it exhorts and it empowers.

Don't settle for less.