The Power of Mercy
My blog message revolves around the amazing "power" of mercy. How many of us think that the way we can declare power is through the showing of mercy? This concept conflicts with so much of our human nature and possibly our upbringing. It conflicts with the macho or tough side many of us have or strive for. We often think of power being associated with force and usually not the forces of kindness and love, but the forces of strength and might.
We receive a blow and we tend to respond with a stronger blow in kind. Someone pushes us or one of our buttons and we push back harder. (Perhaps, we even shove back.) Driving in traffic, we call our heated responses, road rage. In conversations, we might call our responses debates, arguments or perhaps we're engaging in good old-fashioned "one-upmanship." So often, I find myself attempting to "one up" someone else or responding to someone's aggression with an attempt at even stronger aggression. Do you find yourselves in similar situations? I wonder if you, like me, find yourself disappointed with the outcomes in many of these situations. I often regret firing back at someone in an aggressive debate. I make the common mistake of being aggressive or defensive too frequently.
I strongly believe in living life with passion. I believe in living each day as if it could be your last. Make each day count. I currently have several close friends battling illnesses that may mean their lives are cut short. I have lost close friends who seemed way too young to die. The older I get, the younger everyone looks around me. I don't believe I will ever suggest to be passive or to lack passion.
I love to compete and enjoy competition. And like many of the stories in the Bible, I see God loving the heart of a warrior. He made us in His likeness, in His image, and I believe to be a warrior is a good thing. David, the mighty warrior, was said to be a man after God's own heart. But we need to choose our battles wisely in life. We need to err to the side of mercy and of love. We are called to love one another especially when it is most challenging to do so. As Jesus said, love not just our friends, but our enemies. Pray for them. Yes, it is hard, but living eternity in a fiery place seems hard too. Being separated from the love of God seems like an incredibly hard place to be. In spite of this truth, so many choose to distance themselves from the Lord instead of seeking closeness and relationship with Him. Many are not even sure God is real.
It seems like God threw us an amazing curve with the birth of His son, Jesus Christ. He gave us the best gift we can ever imagine. One problem is that we don't always recognize or accept Jesus as an amazing gift. And we are given the gift of choice, meaning we must choose Jesus in order to fully receive the gift. I beg you today to choose Jesus. But please don't do it for me, make this choice for you. Make this choice to spend an eternity with Jesus.
I don't believe God or Jesus told us to forget or ignore the Old Testament; Jesus studied the scriptures and was said to know them better than the clergy of the time. In the stories we read about Jesus, He would go to the temples and read His Father's word. Jesus did not ignore the prophets of the Old Testament. He fulfilled their prophecies. Yet, he challenged some of the old ways of the religious leaders and those of the past to form a new covenant, a New Testament. He spoke of love, of forgiveness, of mercy and of grace. (Grace is another word for mercy.)
Read with me the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 16, verses 19-31:
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores."
"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
But Abraham replied, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let me warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 'No father Abraham,' he said, but if someone from the dead goes to them they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
Who do you relate to most in this story? Do you fear for yourself or for loved ones when you read about the fate of the rich man? Many of us have been blessed with so much in this life. I know I have been blessed. Others have not been so blessed. Does this mean that those who are poor and have nothing are the only ones to receive God's mercy? I believe there is much more to this story than the distinction between rich and poor. We need to look closer.
For a deeper view, take a closer look at the end of the story where Abraham says to the rich man, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." This is a parable that not only speaks of the past, but points to the future. This story tells us that we need to pay close attention to the Old Testament and the messages from Moses and the Prophets. The story also points to the future to the man who died for all of us that we might receive God's grace and forgiveness. This man is Jesus, the only son of God. When Jesus told this story He knew then what He was going to do for us. His crucifixion and gift of grace at the cross had not taken place yet. Had the disciples known what we know looking back at this story that Jesus was likely speaking of His own death and resurrection. Jesus appears to be warning us that not listening to Moses and the Prophets would mean we would fail to listen to Jesus too.
Once Jesus was crucified, like the story warns us in Luke 16, so many have chosen not to listen to the words of Jesus who rose from the dead. We are given that choice today. Have you chosen to listen to the man who came back from the dead? Jesus gives us that choice. We are called to choose Him in order to receive the gift of grace and eternal life. Jesus gave that same choice to the two “bad” men who died next to Him on the crosses at Calvary. One of those two men chose to mock Jesus when Jesus gave him the choice to accept Him. The other man asked in Luke 23:42-43 "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Which man or woman do you want to be? You have the choice. God loves you enough to give you that choice. I can't convince you, but perhaps He can.
If you are skeptical about believing Jesus was indeed the son of God, I ask you to read the many stories told about Him. Look at the amazing miracles He made happen. He brought another man back from the dead also named Lazarus. (This was a different Lazarus.) He healed the lepers and the blind. He fed the masses with a few loaves of bread and fish. Surely his goodness was from God our Father in heaven.
Please don’t stop there. Read about how in spite of the amazing power He had to create so many miracles, He willingly chose death on the cross for you and me...for all of us. He knew what was coming and He willingly died for us. He couldn’t stand the thought of spending eternity separated from us like the fixed chasm in the story of Lazarus and the rich man. That truth hurts me to know that Jesus died for me, but the truth also gives me incredible hope knowing that someone could love me that much. Especially knowing the Son of God died for me and wants to be with me.
The Bibles points out that hundreds of eye witnesses saw Jesus after He died. The same men who ran when Jesus was tried and crucified gave their lives to spread His story. Think of the courage they had to have to follow Jesus AFTER He was crucified. At least one man, Stephen was stoned for following Jesus. Many others were imprisoned and crucified. When they saw their Lord and Savior alive again they knew indeed that He was who He said He was.
Shortly before He died on the cross, Jesus asked God to forgive those who crucified Him. Words that come to mind include, amazing, overwhelming, mercy and Grace. And yes, Power. Mercy to me is the amazing power of the gift of the cross.
Please read the following prayer from the Book of Common Prayer: "O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity." Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever." AMEN!
This prayer ties directly to another prayer that I have found to give me great comfort. I struggle with the discipline, obedience and the commitment to follow Paul's words to us in the book of Thessalonians to “pray unceasingly.” Here is a shorter prayer I have grown to love to say, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen.” Some call it “The Jesus Prayer.” I pray it continually for myself and for others. I ask others to pray it as well. But like others probably question, I ask myself, “How can we pray unceasingly?” I often wonder how we can do that and live life. How do we do that and work? How do we do that and enjoy college football on Saturdays or hang out with our family and friends? There is an answer. If you pray often, I promise you answers will come. I know that from experience, but more importantly I know that because God tells us He will answer our prayers. God always keeps His promises. I don’t always “like” His answers, but He will and does answer our prayers.
Let me share a personal story. I challenge myself to pray this Jesus Prayer continually. I attempt to stay focused on prayer even when I am speaking. I pray in difficult business meetings. I pray in times of loneliness. I pray when I am tempted. I STILL find that I don't pray often enough. I am ashamed to admit that I still sin. I once thought my sins were better than others’ sins. I have come to know that all sin is bad. In the Lord’s eyes hating others is like killing someone. Lusting is like committing adultery. Who among us is sinless? It is comforting to know the Lord forgave me for my sins by His amazing act of grace on the cross. But accepting that has made me even more determined to let Jesus fill my life and help me put aside my sinful ways. I can't do it alone, but He can through me. His Mercy is so powerful.
I have asked my friends in different time zones and in Africa to please pray for me. I have offered to and do pray for them. In this way, we could find ourselves possibly praying for one another around the clock. I can't speak for you, but knowing someone is praying for me is comforting. I ask Jesus to pray for me. I pray as I write today. I share this message with you from deep inside of my heart and soul. I pray for you and me to show mercy for one another. We will experience amazing power in doing so. I ask our Lord Jesus to have mercy on you and those you love as well. Amen.
