October Month 2011
Will you show mercy, despite what you think of them?
Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy - (Matthew 5:7)
In a world where everyone is trying to take care of themselves, trying to obtain material things and social status believers are responsible for the less fortunate. God said that the poor would always be with us, and while some of us complain about what we don’t have, if we are in Jesus we are rich because our the Earth is the Lord and everything in it. Economist suggest that if you have a bank account, a place to live and clothes on your back, you are in the top 20% of wealth in the world. We are blessed and our Lord expects us to do for others even if we in our shallow minds don’t believe they deserve it. “Will you show mercy, despite what you think of them?”
When Jesus is teaching about the beatitudes, I believe he is addressing the church and her character. Yes we take care of one another, but what about those on the outside who you look at and see more evil than good. Those who you look at and you wonder if they will ever get it together. In fact part of our problem is that we look at the world and in some cases we see a reminder of who we once were and we know how terrible we were so we turn away. That’s when mercy should show up and literally show out. God said I will bless those who will not treat others like they should be treated. Instead of treating them as evil, show them the goodness of the Lord. Instead of being afraid of who they are show them that you are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The church must demonstrate that God did not give us the spirit of fear but of Power, love and a sound mind. We must treat them not based on who they are but rather who we are in Jesus. “Will you show mercy, despite what you think of them?”
Pastor SP Courtney