S - Luke
6:33-36 (ISV): "If you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks do
you deserve? Even sinners do that. If
you lend to those from whom you expect to get something back, what thanks do
you deserve? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back what they lend. Rather,
love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in
return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most
High, because he is kind even to ungrateful people and evil people. Be
merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
O - Jesus tells us that God's mercy is to be the compass point for all our
interactions with each other. How merciful do we think the Father really is? According
to Jesus, God is so merciful we should love our enemies in tangible and
practical ways. He's so merciful we should give and lend freely. He's so kind
that even those who are living in direct opposition to his kingdom are included
in acts of kindness, provision, opportunity and hope. To underscore the nature of the mercy and
kindness of God, Jesus will go on to live, think, speak and demonstrate this
very reality; assuring all that he will only do what he sees his Father doing
and say what his Father is saying. Does
the picture, description and conclusion we hold of God's mercy conform to
Jesus' words and actions? How we think of the Father and his mercy is how we
will treat others.
A - I
was taught that God is merciful (there but for the grace of God go I) but I'd
better watch out! The implication was
always that his "fuse" was very short and my risk of divine
displeasure very great. Rather than thinking of him as kind and
generous in mercy it was more like impatiently tolerant with mercy. The
point is not that there is no wrath or judgment but that it is not the place
where he starts nor is it his primary response to tragically imperfect
people (like me). Today, toward myself and all
others, I am assigned to start at love, lead with mercy and then face the facts
… knowing that he is slow to anger and quick to forgive, having no pleasure in
the death of the wicked. My assignment is to be a demonstration of love and he
will work out the details with people along the way. This is beautiful because
it relieves me of the burden of deciding where "the line" is for
people. That is not now or ever my place.
I'm assigned the superlatives (the greatest commandments). He's the only lawgiver and judge.
P - God
who is All-powerful and All-merciful,
Thank you for wanting us to
this very day; for loving us and for sending, giving, presenting Jesus to us so
that we'd be able to see, hear, touch and believe. Thank you that whenever my life, conclusions,
assessments, words and/or attitudes do not conform to Jesus you call me to ask
for and embrace transformation. Father,
please transform my being, existence, apparatus for living, thinking, loving,
speaking into that of Jesus … who is your exact representation. I not only want to receive your mercy and
love but love and show mercy like you do.
Thank you for making my assignment clear and for insisting that I not
attempt to do yours. Today, cause the
life of Jesus (resurrection-class, irrepressible and vibrant) to come into me
and out of me. Today let me be as strong in mercy to others as you are to me.
I'm asking, hoping and believing this in Jesus' name.
Steve
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