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Mercy
Eph 2:4
There were some religious people who once came to Jesus as he was eating and socializing with some of the sinners of his day and asked why he did that. Jesus raid, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means. "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." for I have not come to call the righteous but sinners." (Matthew 9:12,13)
As I prepared for this message I had to ask myself, do I really know what Jesus is talking about here - have I gone and learned what it means when God says he desires mercy not sacrifice. I felt that I needed to learn more about mercy, and some of what I have learned I would like to share with you this morning.
Shortly after Jesus spoke these words, he was confronted by some blind beggars crying out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" Why would these men cry out, "Have mercy on us."
Napoleon was a very disciplined general and demanded absolute obedience of his troops. When one of his soldiers disobeyed a second time he said that justice demanded his death. The soldier's mother sought the pardon of her son. "I don't ask for justice," demanded his mother, "I plead for mercy." "But", said the emperor, "he does not deserve mercy." "Sir," cried the mother, " it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for." " well then," said the emperor, " I will have mercy." And her son was saved. P. 437 Knight.
Mercy presupposes that there is a need that the person cannot every satisfy in his own efforts. It will require outside intervention for the need to be met.
One day in court, a Christian judge, was faced with a friend of his youth, who had strayed from the paths of righteousness and had committed an offence against the law of the land. Those who knew the relationship between the two men expected the magistrate to deal with the man mercifully, and they were very much surprised when they heard that the sentence was a heavy fine. But they were more surprised when the magistrate went to the officer of the court, and took from his own pocket the money to pay the fine. He did his duty as a magistrate, and upheld the law, but he also showed something of the mercy of God for his friend when he paid the penalty for his friend. There is little wonder that the law-breaker was broken-hearted in his repentance. Jesus gave Himself for you. Have you given yourself to Him?
Let us go back to the beginning of time. God placed man in a beautiful peaceful place but God put a restriction around his eating activities. There was one tree in the middle of that beautiful paradise that Adam was not to eat from. As recorded in Genesis 2:17 ff, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for when you eat of it you will surely die." Romans tells us that the Wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. As we follow the story of Adam and Eve we see that Eve gave into the temptation to sin and enticed her husband to disobey God as well. Is this not true in life that often others around us disobey and then seek to draw us into their disobedience as well. Then Adam and Eve tried to hide from God as they knew their disobedience but tried to act innocent and blame others. Instead of crying out for mercy they sought to blame others for their disobedience. People are no different today. Because Adam sinned today we too are under the curse of sin and are destined to die. God was concerned about man's sin and there was another tree in the garden which apparently Adam and Eve had not yet seen the need to eat from. This was the tree of life. God determined that Adam and Eve should not eat of that tree. In Genesis 3:22, 23 we read, "And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever. So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken."
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to prosper but you do not? Our answer may be found in Proverbs 28:13 "He who conceals his sins does not prosper but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." What is there in your life that you are trying to hide from God and others. Are we any different than Adam or Eve? When they sinned they went and hid. Rather than trying to hid our guilt when we disobey and do something wrong, we should be crying out to God and asking for mercy and forgiveness.
In Luke 18:9 - 14 Jesus told the story of the two visitors to church. One was a regular church goer and knew his Bible well. He was careful to follow it in regards to doing all the commands and was proud of it. He went beyond the normal practice of fasting once a week. In fact he fasted and prayed twice a week. Not only that he made sure that he gave 10% of his total income to God. Sounds like a real religious nut and someone God would be proud of but his pride was in the way. James 4:6 says, " God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble." The problem with the first religious person is that he had an attitude. He thought he was better than others especially the guy from Revenue Canada. This second guy was a merciless swindler. He had collected taxes from people when they had no money. He didn't care if the people went to bed hungry as long as he had collected his taxes and made his fortune. But something about his business tactics that eventually got to him. One day he realized that his life of robbery, adultery and pressuring others was not the way God wanted him to live. He went to church and when he saw the religious devotion of others realized the great void in his life was only to be filled by God he cried out to God, "God have mercy on me, a sinner." What kind of spiritual attitudes do you have today. Is there spiritual pride or do you cry out to God for mercy because you realize that only God can forgive of all the wickedness, all the sinfulness, all the blackness in your life. Only the one who cries out to God and receives forgiveness will experience eternal life in heaven with God. But mercy is not something which only God dispenses (gives out). We need to show mercy to others.
In Matthew 18:23 - 35 Jesus told the story of the a man who was in deep debt. He was in such deep debt because of his gambling and poor business decisions that he had no way of getting out of the deep hole that he had dug himself into. The loan was called in and this man had to face reality. There was no way that he could repay the debt he had accumulated. The Master ordered him to sell everything he had and even to sell his wife and children into slavery to collect enough to pay off the debt. The man fell on his knees and cried out for mercy and time. The man touched the heart of man he owed money to and was given a reprieve.( a second chance.) In fact the whole debt was cancelled. The man was forgiven that tremendous debt and went out a free man not having to sell his wife and children. He needed a fresh start. But still being in deep poverty, he saw another fellow who owed him some money and he thought now was the time to collect.
This second man cried out for patience and time but the first fellow was desperate and refused. He demanded his money and had the man thrown in jail until he could arrange to have the debt paid.
When word got back to the Master about the way this guy was acting toward others he called him in and withdrew his offer of clemency( to forgive the debt) He joined the fellow he had thrown in jail for default of payment. Jesus ended his story by saying ( Mt 18:35) " This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
When Jesus was instructing his disciple how to pray, he said, (Mt 6:14, 15) For if you forgive men when they sin against you , ( show mercy) your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive ment heir sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
What is your response to your disobedience and sinfulness this morning? We should all have an attitude of brokenness and continue to cry out to God for mercy and forgive others as well. Paul wrote to the Romans. ( Romans 12: 1, 2) I urge you brothers, in view of God's mecy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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."
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March 11, 2001