Embodying God's Mercy: A Call to Compassion

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound theme of mercy, drawing from the teachings of Jesus and the writings of Paul. We began by considering the nature of God's mercy, which is not only about receiving His grace but also about expressing it to others. This expression of mercy is a reflection of God's character, and as His children, we are called to imitate Him. The challenge lies in bridging the gap between what we know to be true and what we actually practice in our lives.

We delved into Jesus' teachings in Luke 6, where He calls us to love our enemies and do good without expecting anything in return. This radical love and mercy are not difficult to understand, yet they are challenging to live out. The failure to practice these teachings cannot be excused by ignorance, as they are clear and straightforward. The real question is how well we, as Christians, embody these principles in our daily lives.

We also examined the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18, which highlights the danger of religious hypocrisy. The Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness, misses the mark, while the tax collector, aware of his sinfulness, seeks God's mercy and is justified. This story serves as a reminder that true righteousness comes from humility and a genuine recognition of our need for God's grace.

Fast-forwarding to the early church in Crete, as described in Titus, we see the importance of Christian conduct in a morally decadent society. Paul urges believers to be marked by loyalty, community, courtesy, and humility, all grounded in the mercy and grace of God. This call to live exceptional lives is not just about personal piety but about engaging with the world in a way that reflects God's love and mercy.

In conclusion, we are reminded that our mission is not to admonish those outside the kingdom but to rescue and care for them with compassion. Our lives should be a testament to the transformative power of God's mercy, drawing others to the hope and love found in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The Nature of Mercy: Mercy is a core aspect of God's character, and as His children, we are called to reflect this mercy in our interactions with others. This involves loving our enemies and doing good without expecting anything in return, a challenge that requires us to align our actions with our beliefs. [03:17]

- Understanding and Practicing Jesus' Teachings: The teachings of Jesus, such as loving our enemies, are clear and straightforward. Our failure to practice them cannot be excused by ignorance, highlighting the need for self-reflection and a commitment to living out these principles in our daily lives. [07:53]

- The Danger of Religious Hypocrisy: The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector warns against self-righteousness and highlights the importance of humility. True righteousness comes from recognizing our need for God's mercy and grace, rather than relying on our own perceived goodness. [24:04]

- Christian Conduct in a Decadent Society: In Titus, Paul emphasizes the importance of Christian behavior in a morally corrupt society. Believers are called to be loyal, courteous, and humble, engaging with the world in a way that reflects God's love and mercy, thus furthering the gospel. [32:23]

- Our Mission of Compassion: Our mission as Christians is to rescue and care for those outside the kingdom with compassion, not to admonish them. Our lives should be a testament to the transformative power of God's mercy, drawing others to the hope and love found in Christ. [16:01]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:23] - Sentimental Bears and Mercy
- [01:21] - C.S. Lewis on Imagination and Obedience
- [02:39] - The Expression of God's Mercy
- [03:17] - Imitating God's Mercy
- [04:53] - Jesus' Instructions on Mercy
- [06:09] - Loving Enemies and Radical Mercy
- [07:53] - Understanding Jesus' Teachings
- [09:10] - Christianity in North America
- [11:07] - The Mirror of God's Word
- [12:42] - Christopher Hitchens and Christian Responses
- [16:01] - Mission vs. Admonition
- [19:11] - The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
- [24:04] - Justification and Humility
- [29:10] - Christian Conduct in Crete
- [32:23] - Loyalty, Community, and Courtesy
- [39:01] - Grounded in Mercy and Grace
- [46:27] - Friendship and the Gospel
- [51:26] - The Reality of the Gospel
- [54:49] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Nature of Mercy

Bible Reading:
1. Luke 6:27-36
2. Luke 18:9-14
3. Titus 3:1-7

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Observation Questions:

1. In Luke 6:27-36, what specific actions does Jesus instruct His followers to take towards their enemies? How does this reflect the nature of mercy? [06:09]

2. According to the parable in Luke 18:9-14, what distinguishes the Pharisee's prayer from the tax collector's prayer? What does this reveal about their understanding of righteousness? [19:53]

3. In Titus 3:1-7, what characteristics does Paul encourage believers to exhibit in a morally decadent society? How are these characteristics connected to God's mercy and grace? [29:51]

4. How does the sermon describe the difference between receiving God's mercy and expressing it to others? [02:39]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Jesus' command to "love your enemies" challenge common societal norms, and what might this look like in practical terms for a believer today? [07:18]

2. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector highlights the danger of religious hypocrisy. How can believers guard against self-righteousness in their own lives? [24:04]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Christian conduct can influence a morally corrupt society, as seen in the example of the early church in Crete? [32:23]

4. The sermon mentions the mission of Christians to rescue and care for those outside the kingdom with compassion. How does this mission align with the teachings of Jesus and Paul? [16:01]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you found it difficult to show mercy to someone who wronged you. What steps can you take to better align your actions with Jesus' teachings in Luke 6:27-36? [06:09]

2. Consider the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. How can you cultivate a heart of humility and genuine repentance in your daily walk with God? [24:04]

3. In what ways can you demonstrate loyalty, community, courtesy, and humility in your interactions with others, as encouraged in Titus 3:1-7? Identify one specific action you can take this week. [32:23]

4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of engaging with the world in a way that reflects God's love and mercy. How can you actively participate in this mission within your community? [16:01]

5. Think about a person in your life who may be outside the kingdom of God. How can you show them compassion and care, drawing them towards the hope and love found in Christ? [16:01]

6. Reflect on your own life and identify any areas where you may be exhibiting religious hypocrisy. What practical steps can you take to ensure your faith is genuine and not just outwardly performed? [19:11]

7. How can you ensure that your life is a testament to the transformative power of God's mercy, as discussed in the sermon? What changes might you need to make in your daily routine or mindset? [16:01]

Devotional

Day 1: Reflecting God's Mercy in Our Actions
Mercy is a fundamental aspect of God's character, and as His children, we are called to reflect this mercy in our interactions with others. This involves loving our enemies and doing good without expecting anything in return, a challenge that requires us to align our actions with our beliefs. The teachings of Jesus in Luke 6 emphasize this radical love and mercy, which are not difficult to understand but challenging to live out. The real question is how well we, as Christians, embody these principles in our daily lives. [03:17]

"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:36-37, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone you find difficult to love. How can you show them mercy today, expecting nothing in return?


Day 2: Living Out Jesus' Teachings
The teachings of Jesus, such as loving our enemies, are clear and straightforward. Our failure to practice them cannot be excused by ignorance, highlighting the need for self-reflection and a commitment to living out these principles in our daily lives. Jesus calls us to a higher standard of love and mercy, one that transcends our natural inclinations and challenges us to act in ways that reflect His character. This requires intentionality and a willingness to examine our hearts and actions regularly. [07:53]

"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." (Luke 6:27-28, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a teaching of Jesus that you struggle to practice. What steps can you take today to begin living it out more fully?


Day 3: Embracing Humility and Rejecting Hypocrisy
The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector warns against self-righteousness and highlights the importance of humility. True righteousness comes from recognizing our need for God's mercy and grace, rather than relying on our own perceived goodness. The Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness, misses the mark, while the tax collector, aware of his sinfulness, seeks God's mercy and is justified. This story serves as a reminder that humility and a genuine recognition of our need for God's grace are essential to our spiritual journey. [24:04]

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:14, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you relied on your own righteousness. How can you cultivate a heart of humility and dependence on God's grace today?


Day 4: Exemplifying Christian Conduct in Society
In Titus, Paul emphasizes the importance of Christian behavior in a morally corrupt society. Believers are called to be loyal, courteous, and humble, engaging with the world in a way that reflects God's love and mercy, thus furthering the gospel. This call to live exceptional lives is not just about personal piety but about engaging with the world in a way that reflects God's love and mercy. Our conduct should be a testament to the transformative power of God's grace, drawing others to the hope and love found in Christ. [32:23]

"Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us." (Titus 2:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: Consider how your actions reflect your faith. What is one specific way you can demonstrate God's love and mercy in your community today?


Day 5: Compassion as Our Mission
Our mission as Christians is to rescue and care for those outside the kingdom with compassion, not to admonish them. Our lives should be a testament to the transformative power of God's mercy, drawing others to the hope and love found in Christ. This mission requires us to engage with the world compassionately, offering hope and love to those who are lost. It is through our actions and attitudes that we can draw others to the transformative power of God's mercy and grace. [16:01]

"And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh." (Jude 1:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience God's compassion through you? How can you reach out to them today with love and understanding?

Quotes

We’ve been lead in prayer, and our task is to consider this matter of mercy. Perhaps I could begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis from “The Four Loves.” You remember this from the end of the book. Lewis writes, “Those like myself whose imagination far exceeds their obedience are subject to a just penalty. We easily imagine conditions far higher than we have actually reached. If we describe what we have imagined, we may make others and make ourselves believe that we have really been there and so fool both them and ourselves.” [00:01:21]

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. That is not all that He is, but it is essentially what He is. Paul writes to the Ephesians in chapter 5, and he says to them “I want you to be imitators of God.” So that there is to be a godly, god-like dimension that marks out those who are the children of God. And God's goodness is expressed in part in His mercy, in so far as it is displayed towards those who are made aware of their misery and of their distress. [00:02:57]

Jesus has expressed these woes on the self-sufficient, and then He says: “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also. And from one who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you; and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” [00:05:59]

Well, then it follows surely, that failure to practice what Jesus has just declared, that failure will not be able to be excused on account of ignorance. It will be impossible for us to say that our failure in this realm in the matters as they have been delineated is on account of the fact that we do not understand. The second question is perhaps a harder question. “How well do you think Christianity in North America is doing when placed alongside the clarity of the instruction of Jesus that we have just read?” [00:08:23]

But listen loved ones, Jesus sent us out to engage in mission. We have no justifiable basis to change the charge from mission to one of admonition, to fail to do what we are asked to do in rescuing the perishing and caring for the dying, snatching them in pity from sin and the grave and from weeping over the erring one, and picking up the fallen. At what point in the history of evangelical Christianity did that finally be transmuted into something entirely different? [00:15:21]

He’s addressing the danger of religious hypocrisy. He's addressing the possibility that exists of embracing something in a formal and external way of having been able to commit oneself to the various aspects of it all, and yet to have a heart that is unrenewed by the very grace that is necessary. Now, just look at the story. There’s a story of two men. You know it well. Many of you have done it for years. Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee. As a Pharisee, he was a separatist. [00:19:27]

The Pharisee is the epitome of the religious person who feels good about himself, feels good about herself; uses the occasion constantly to stoke their ego and their separation from everything that is foul and evil and unjust and so on. Often, such individuals have no non-Christian friends at all. It is a long, long time since any of them had ever had an encounter with someone that they would regard as disreputable or not in their social circle, or beyond the realm of their interest and so on. [00:24:47]

And probably these three chapters, more than any of the epistles, drive home this absolute and unequivocal demand for the children of God to be marked by the character of God. That these individuals that Paul is encouraging Titus to encourage are to be those who are ready for every good work. You will see that at the first verse in chapter 3. “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and to be ready for every good work.” [00:29:02]

And this is taking place in an environment where the influential false teachers are, according to verse 16 of chapter 1, “unfit for any good work.” In fact, Paul speaks very straightforwardly about them. Crete was a proverbial place for moral decadence. Contemporary historians recorded it as being almost impossible to find personal conduct more treacherous, or public policy more unjust than in Crete. OK. Let me just read that to you again. [00:30:09]

Loyalty, community, courtesy. I’m not sure that courtesy is a big enough word for this, but it covers all that’s mentioned here: to speak evil of no one; to avoid quarreling; to be gentle; to show perfect courtesy toward all people. So, the Christian, then, is to be marked by grace, politeness, manners, respect, displayed in our gestures, displayed in our demeanor. Not displayed in a bumper sticker as I saw on one car the other day, that said “Thank God for our troops, especially for our snipers.” [00:35:11]

The story of the good Samaritan was essentially told again by Jesus to counteract that notion. All that man wanted to know was who is my neighbor. Tell me who my little group is. Tell me where I can draw the circle around myself beyond which I don't have to be engaged in anybody's life, involved in any way at all. Just tell me. Us four, no more, shut the door. Round the wagons. We can stay away from all these miserable wretches that are out there. [00:40:42]

Augustine said “The cross is the pulpit of God’s love.” Ian Murray, in his little booklet, says “Persuading men and women of God's love is the great calling of Christian ministry.” And yet here we are all these years beyond the 60’s, and some of us lived through them and we played in some of those albums, those dreadful songs – “I want to hold your hand, I want to hold your hand, I want to hold your ha-ha-hand.” [00:52:32]

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Transcript
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