Embracing Mercy: Actions, Attitudes, and the Gospel

Devotional

Day 1: Mercy Requires Action and Sacrifice

Description: The story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 is a powerful illustration of mercy in action. Unlike the priest and Levite who ignored the wounded man, the Samaritan took care of him, showing that true mercy involves meeting the needs of others, even at a personal cost. This story teaches us that mercy is not passive; it requires us to step out of our comfort zones and make sacrifices for the well-being of others. The Samaritan's actions were driven by compassion, demonstrating that mercy is an active expression of love.

In our daily lives, we are often presented with opportunities to show mercy. It could be as simple as helping a neighbor in need or as significant as forgiving someone who has wronged us. The key is to act, not just feel compassion. True mercy involves tangible actions that reflect the love of Christ. As we go about our day, let us be mindful of the ways we can actively show mercy to those around us. [20:25]

Luke 10:33-34 (ESV): "But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him."

Reflection: Think of a specific person or situation in your life where you can show mercy through action. What practical steps can you take today to meet their needs, even if it requires a personal sacrifice?

Day 2: Mercy and Forgiveness

Description: Jesus' interaction with the woman caught in adultery, as recorded in John 8:1-11, provides a profound lesson on mercy and forgiveness. When the Pharisees brought the woman to Jesus, expecting Him to condemn her, He instead offered her forgiveness and a chance for repentance. Jesus told her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more," illustrating that mercy involves both compassion and a call to change. This encounter teaches us that mercy does not mean condoning sin but offering forgiveness and an opportunity for transformation.

In our relationships, we often encounter situations where we need to extend mercy and forgiveness. It is important to remember that forgiving someone does not mean we approve of their actions. Instead, it means we are willing to let go of resentment and offer them a chance to change. By doing so, we reflect the mercy that Jesus has shown us. [06:47]

John 8:10-11 (ESV): "Jesus stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.'"

Reflection: Is there someone in your life who needs your forgiveness? How can you extend mercy to them today, offering both compassion and a call to change?

Day 3: Mercy from Love

Description: Ephesians 2:4-5 reveals that God's mercy flows from His great love for us. "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved." Similarly, our mercy towards others should stem from our love for Christ. This love-driven mercy goes beyond mere forgiveness to address the deeper needs and weaknesses of others. It is a reflection of the unconditional love that God has shown us.

When we understand that our ability to show mercy is rooted in God's love for us, it transforms our perspective. We begin to see others through the lens of Christ's love, which compels us to act with compassion and kindness. Our mercy becomes an extension of the love we have received from God, and it motivates us to meet the needs of those around us. [15:18]

Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV): "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved."

Reflection: Reflect on the love that God has shown you. How can you let this love motivate you to show mercy to someone in need today?

Day 4: Mercy in Attitude

Description: Mercy is not just about our actions but also about our attitude towards others. Jesus exemplified this on the cross, praying for His executioners and showing compassion to the thief beside Him. Our attitude should reflect this same spirit of mercy. It means not holding grudges or capitalizing on others' failures. Instead, we should approach others with a heart of compassion and a willingness to forgive, just as Jesus did.

Having a merciful attitude requires a conscious effort to see others through the eyes of Christ. It involves letting go of bitterness and choosing to respond with kindness and understanding. By adopting a merciful attitude, we create an environment where forgiveness and healing can flourish. [23:13]

Luke 23:34 (ESV): "And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' And they cast lots to divide his garments."

Reflection: Examine your attitude towards those who have wronged you. Are you holding onto any grudges? How can you adopt a more merciful attitude today?

Day 5: Mercy and the Gospel

Description: The ultimate expression of mercy is sharing the gospel. We can do many acts of kindness, but if we fail to share the good news of Jesus Christ, we miss the essence of the mercy shown to us. Our mercy should lead others to the saving knowledge of Christ. By sharing the gospel, we offer others the greatest gift of all—eternal life through Jesus Christ.

As believers, we are called to be ambassadors of Christ, sharing His love and mercy with the world. This involves not only meeting physical and emotional needs but also addressing spiritual needs. By proclaiming the gospel, we fulfill our mission to make disciples and extend the mercy we have received to others. [27:57]

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (ESV): "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who does not know Christ. How can you share the gospel with them today, showing them the ultimate expression of mercy?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Tonight, we delved into the Beatitudes, focusing on Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." We explored how Jesus calls us to act differently from the world, especially in showing mercy. The times Jesus lived in were not merciful, as evidenced by the Pharisees and Sadducees who often condemned rather than showed compassion. We examined John 8:1-11, where Jesus showed mercy to a woman caught in adultery, teaching us that mercy does not mean condoning sin but offering forgiveness and a chance for repentance.

We also looked at the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, which illustrates practical mercy. Unlike the priest and Levite who ignored the wounded man, the Samaritan showed compassion and took care of him. This story teaches us that mercy involves action and sacrifice. Jesus' life was a testament to mercy, even as He was crucified, He prayed for His executioners and showed compassion to the thief on the cross.

Mercy is not just about forgiveness but also about addressing the needs and weaknesses of others. It flows from love, as seen in Ephesians 2:4-5, where God's mercy stems from His great love for us. Our mercy towards others should similarly flow from our love for Christ. We are called to show mercy through our actions, attitudes, and prayers, especially by sharing the gospel. The promise of obtaining mercy is not about earning salvation but experiencing God's continuous provision and compassion in our daily lives.

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Key Takeaways

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2. Mercy and Forgiveness: Jesus' interaction with the woman caught in adultery shows that mercy does not condone sin but offers forgiveness and a chance for repentance. Jesus told her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more," illustrating that mercy involves both compassion and a call to change.

3. Mercy from Love: Ephesians 2:4-5 reveals that God's mercy flows from His great love for us. Similarly, our mercy towards others should stem from our love for Christ. This love-driven mercy goes beyond mere forgiveness to address the deeper needs and weaknesses of others.

4. Mercy in Attitude: Mercy is also about our attitude towards others. It doesn't hold grudges or capitalize on others' failures. Jesus exemplified this on the cross, praying for His executioners and showing compassion to the thief beside Him. Our attitude should reflect this same spirit of mercy.

5. Mercy and the Gospel: The ultimate expression of mercy is sharing the gospel. We can do many acts of kindness, but if we fail to share the good news of Jesus Christ, we miss the essence of the mercy shown to us. Our mercy should lead others to the saving knowledge of Christ.

### [20:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Introduction to the Beatitudes
[02:02] - Reading Matthew 5:7
[02:49] - Context of Jesus' Time
[03:57] - The Woman Caught in Adultery
[05:11] - Jesus' Response to the Pharisees
[06:47] - Lesson from Jesus' Mercy
[07:31] - Jesus' Teaching on Mercy
[09:24] - Jesus Eating with Sinners
[10:27] - Loving Your Enemies
[12:05] - Avoiding Religious Boxes
[13:33] - Mercy and Forgiveness
[14:25] - God's Daily Mercies
[15:18] - Mercy from Love
[16:27] - Mercy at the Cross
[17:19] - The Good Samaritan
[20:25] - Practical Mercy
[23:13] - Mercy in Attitude
[24:28] - Stephen's Last Words
[25:52] - Confronting Sin with Mercy
[27:16] - Praying for the Lost
[27:57] - Proclaiming the Gospel
[28:35] - Continuous Mercy
[30:05] - The Unmerciful Servant
[33:02] - Call to Show Mercy
[33:46] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), how did Jesus respond to the Pharisees' demand for her punishment? What did He say to the woman? [06:47]
What actions did the Good Samaritan take to show mercy to the wounded man in Luke 10:25-37? [20:25]
According to Matthew 5:7, what is the promise given to those who are merciful? [02:02]
How did Jesus demonstrate mercy even while He was on the cross, according to the sermon? [23:13]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to show mercy to the woman caught in adultery instead of condemning her? What does this teach us about the nature of mercy? [06:47]
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, why do you think the priest and the Levite chose to ignore the wounded man? What does this reveal about their understanding of mercy? [20:25]
How does Ephesians 2:4-5 explain the relationship between God's love and His mercy? How should this influence our own acts of mercy? [15:18]
The sermon mentioned that mercy involves action and sacrifice. Can you think of a situation where showing mercy might require personal sacrifice? [20:25]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you were in a position to show mercy but chose not to. What held you back, and how might you respond differently in the future? [06:47]
The Good Samaritan went out of his way to help someone in need. Identify a person in your life who might need your help. What specific actions can you take to show them mercy this week? [20:25]
Jesus showed mercy to His executioners and the thief on the cross. Is there someone in your life who has wronged you that you need to forgive? How can you take steps towards forgiveness and mercy? [23:13]
The sermon emphasized that mercy should flow from our love for Christ. How can you cultivate a deeper love for Christ that naturally leads to acts of mercy? [15:18]
Sharing the gospel is described as the ultimate act of mercy. Think of one person who does not know Christ. How can you share the gospel with them in a loving and merciful way? [27:57]
Mercy also involves addressing the needs and weaknesses of others. Identify a specific need in your community. How can your small group work together to meet this need? [15:18]
The sermon mentioned that mercy is not just about forgiveness but also about our attitude towards others. How can you change your attitude to be more merciful in your daily interactions? [23:13]

Sermon Clips

1. "And as Christians, we should act differently than the world. And so tonight we're going to look at how we act. When facing the world in opposition to kingdom living." [01:10] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Jesus didn't teach that. No, Jesus, he talked to her and he said, Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more. He didn't let her off scot-free. Right? No, Jesus showed her what mercy looked like." [06:47] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We must be careful that we don't put ourselves in a box. Right? As believers, we must be careful that we don't get ourselves in this box. That religion wants us to be put into. Remember, being a Christian is not about religion. It's about relationship. And our relationship with Christ should boil over into our relationship with others." [12:49] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We can't just spend so much time away from the world that we have no influence in the world. Right? We must show the love of Christ to others because sometimes that's the only gospel that people will get. It's the way that they're treated. They're treated by Christians." [13:33] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Mercy is often in correlation with forgiveness. Forgiveness is a type of mercy. But mercy is deeper than just forgiveness. God's forgiveness of our sins flows from His mercy on us. And the forgiveness that we have from sin flows from His mercy for us." [14:25] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "The mercy Christ commands us to show, can only be shown if He is our source. The mercy that God is speaking of here through His Son Jesus Christ, that mercy can only be shown through the power source of Jesus Christ. It goes against our nature to be merciful to people. We find mercy at the foot of the cross as we see Christ being merciful to us." [16:27] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "We are liberated by the mercy that God showed. For us through His Son Jesus Christ. We think about how do we practice mercy. Let's talk some practice. How do we practice mercy?" [17:19] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "When we think about our lives, we should act as the Samaritan, and not the other two. How many of us in our everyday life, we see someone who we know has a need, and we pass by on the other side of the road? Maybe not literally, but figuratively. We see someone who has a need, and what is their need? Their need is the gospel." [21:47] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Mercy is also shown in our attitude. Mercy doesn't hold a grudge. It doesn't harbor resentment. It doesn't capitalize on another's failure or weakness. Sometimes we're merciful by just not rubbing in something that went wrong. Jesus doesn't do that, does he? Jesus doesn't go and say, You know, if someone does something dumb, Jesus doesn't go and say, Hey, look what you did." [22:28] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "We think about the best way that we show spiritual mercy is by proclaiming the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. At the end of the day, we can do all of the other things, but if we're not proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, we've missed the mercy that was bestowed upon us." [27:57] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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