God's heart is mercy...

...but how often do we miss it? Throughout His word our God is proclaimed as being GREAT in mercy, RICH in mercy; sometimes, however, we totally miss His heart. How do we miss it? By mistaking our own personal view of ourselves and of others for God's view.

One example is how we can be so hard with ourselves and with others, which is totally missing God's heart:

Here are some things to think about:

Have you ever looked down upon another Christian because of his/her weakness in a certain area or because he/she messed up or fell hard at one point in time? Have you ever looked down upon another Christian because he/she is not serving in some particular ministry within a church setting or because he/she is serving, but not in the same capacity that you are? Have you ever looked down upon another Christian because he/she does not know as much as you do concerning the things of God?

What about in your own life? How do you view your self? When you mess up, do you look down upon yourself so much, that it is like taking a spiritual scourge to your back in order to pay for your sin, or do you try and serve God in some capacity in order to appease the Almighty?

And what about the lives of unbelievers? How do you view them? Are you quick to condemn them because they are partaking in something in which they are only in bondage to do?

God's heart is mercy. Don't miss it.

Christian, it is not your job to look down upon other Christians. It is your job, however, to share the truth in love with them (which will involve rebuke at times), to forgive them, and to be merciful unto them.

Christian, it is not your job to look down upon yourself (that is truly not dying to yourself); just let the word of God do the declaring of who you are. And it is also not your job to make sacrifice or do a work in order to pay for your sins or to appease the Almighty. It is your job, however, to humble yourself before Him, confess your sins, and wait for His mercy.

Christian, it is not your job to condemn unbelievers. God did not even send His Son into the world to condemn them. Remember that you were without God's mercy at one time in your life (just as they are now), but have now obtained it. (1 Peter 2:9-10) It is your job, however, to share Jesus with them, the One who is GREAT and RICH in mercy, and who can extend this mercy unto them.

Here are some great passages to meditate upon:

Matthew 9:10-13 "And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw [it], they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard [that], he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Hosea 6:4-7 "O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness [is] as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. Therefore have I hewed [them] by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments [are as] the light [that] goeth forth. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me."

Luke 6:35-36 "...Love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."

Matthew 18:21-35 "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants…" (Only included first few verses; pick up your Bible and read the rest.)

Luke 18:9-14 "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

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


Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
unto eternal life,

One Clay Soldier among many