Embracing the Challenge of Loving Mercy
Summary
In today's sermon, I explored the challenging yet essential Christian discipline of loving mercy, as outlined in Micah 6:8. I began by sharing my personal reluctance to preach on this topic due to my own struggles with extending mercy. Growing up in an environment where grudges were commonplace, I've often found myself guarded and quick to judge. However, Pastor Tyler's insistence that my struggles made me the ideal candidate to speak on mercy led me to confront my own heart and share my journey with you.
I delved into the concept of mercy, not just as an act we should perform, but as something we are called to love. This is a tall order, especially when we consider our own experiences of hurt, injustice, and betrayal. I shared a personal anecdote about an encounter with a reckless driver while walking my dog, which tested my ability to extend mercy in a moment of potential harm.
Drawing from scripture, I highlighted the importance of mercy in our relationship with God and others. I referenced Philippians 4:8, which calls us to focus on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. This mindset helps us to align our hearts with God's and enables us to extend mercy more naturally.
I also discussed the modern-day difficulty of loving mercy, emphasizing that it's not just about the mercy God extends to us, but also about delighting in the mercy He extends to others. This requires us to follow His example, even when it's challenging.
To bring the concept of mercy closer to home, I shared three scriptures that connect mercy to our daily lives: Luke 6:36, Matthew 5:7, and Hebrews 4:16. These verses remind us of the importance of being merciful, as we too desire to receive mercy.
Finally, I addressed the spiritual gift of mercy, which some in the church possess. This gift is crucial for supporting those who are suffering and for teaching the rest of us how to live out mercy in our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Loving mercy is a reflection of God's character within us. When we love mercy, we mirror the heart of God, who is described as forgiving and pardoning. This requires us to look beyond our own pain and see the potential for redemption and restoration in others, just as God does for us. [49:43]
- Mercy triumphs over judgment. This profound truth reminds us that God's mercy is more powerful than His anger and judgment. As followers of Christ, we are called to embody this principle, extending mercy even when it is within our power to judge or punish. [50:18]
- Mercy is not passive; it requires courage and intentionality. To show mercy, we must open our hearts to the hardships of others and consider their perspectives. This often means setting aside our own desires for retribution and choosing a path of compassion and understanding. [01:10:39]
- Mercy is a spiritual gift that is essential for the church's ministry to those who are suffering. If you possess this gift, know that you are needed and valued. Your ability to show mercy is a vital part of the body of Christ, and it teaches us all how to better reflect God's love. [01:00:00]
- Unforgiveness hinders our ability to show mercy. To live in unforgiveness is to live outside of God's will. By releasing unforgiveness and embracing mercy, we open ourselves up to the fullness of God's grace and the ability to extend that grace to others. [01:01:13]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Loving Mercy
#### Bible Reading
1. Micah 6:8 - "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
2. Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
3. Luke 6:36 - "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Micah 6:8 say about what the Lord requires of us?
2. According to Philippians 4:8, what should we focus our minds on to align our hearts with God's?
3. How does Luke 6:36 describe the way we should be merciful?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the sermon suggest that loving mercy is a reflection of God's character within us? ([49:43])
2. How does the concept of mercy triumphing over judgment challenge our natural inclinations towards retribution? ([50:18])
3. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between unforgiveness and our ability to show mercy? ([01:01:13])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you found it difficult to show mercy. What was the main barrier, and how could focusing on Philippians 4:8 help you overcome it? ([49:43])
2. Think of a person in your life who has wronged you. How can you begin to extend mercy to them, following the example of God's mercy towards us? ([50:18])
3. The sermon mentioned that mercy requires courage and intentionality. Identify a specific action you can take this week to show mercy to someone in need. ([01:10:39])
4. If you possess the spiritual gift of mercy, how can you use it to support someone who is suffering in your community? What steps can you take to develop this gift further? ([01:00:00])
5. Unforgiveness hinders our ability to show mercy. Is there someone you need to forgive to fully embrace the discipline of loving mercy? What practical steps can you take to start this process? ([01:01:13])
6. How can you incorporate the practice of thinking about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable into your daily routine to help you love mercy more naturally? ([49:43])
7. Reflect on a time when you received mercy from someone. How did it impact you, and how can you use that experience to motivate you to extend mercy to others? ([50:18])
Devotional
Day 1: Mirror God's Merciful Heart
Mercy is not merely an action but a reflection of the divine nature within us. When we choose to love mercy, we are aligning our hearts with the character of God, who is rich in forgiveness and abounding in love. This divine attribute calls us to look past our own hurts and recognize the potential for redemption in others. It's about seeing people not just through the lens of their mistakes but through the lens of grace and potential that God sees in them. It's a transformative process that begins within and gradually changes how we interact with the world around us. [49:43]
"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." - Matthew 5:44-45 ESV
Reflection: How can you reflect God's mercy in your interactions with those who have wronged you?
Day 2: Mercy Over Judgment
God's mercy is a powerful force that overshadows judgment. As believers, we are called to embody this principle, showing mercy even when we have the power to judge. This does not mean ignoring wrongdoing, but rather choosing a response that reflects God's own preference for mercy over wrath. It's a conscious decision to extend grace, understanding that we too are in need of mercy. By doing so, we become vessels of God's love and agents of healing in a world that often favors retribution over reconciliation. [50:18]
"For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." - James 2:13 ESV
Reflection: In what situation do you need to choose mercy over judgment today?
Day 3: Courageous Compassion
Mercy is an active, intentional choice that requires courage. It involves opening our hearts to the struggles of others and seeing life from their perspective. This often means setting aside our own feelings of hurt or desire for revenge in favor of a path marked by compassion and understanding. It's about taking a step towards someone else's pain, offering a hand in the midst of their struggle, and being a source of comfort and support. [01:10:39]
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2 ESV
Reflection: What is one act of mercy you can courageously undertake today?
Day 4: The Gift of Mercy
The spiritual gift of mercy is a vital part of the church's ministry. Those who possess this gift have a unique ability to empathize with and comfort those who are suffering. This gift is not just for the benefit of the individual but serves as a lesson to the entire body of Christ on how to live out mercy in our daily lives. If you have this gift, know that your presence and actions are a powerful testament to God's love and care for His people. [01:00:00]
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." - 1 Peter 4:10 ESV
Reflection: How can you use your gift of mercy to serve someone in your community this week?
Day 5: Releasing Unforgiveness
Unforgiveness is a barrier to showing mercy. Living in unforgiveness is contrary to God's will for our lives. By letting go of unforgiveness, we open ourselves to the fullness of God's grace and are better equipped to extend that grace to others. Embracing mercy allows us to participate in the healing and restorative work of God, both in our lives and in the lives of those we interact with. [01:01:13]
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." - Colossians 3:12-13 ESV
Reflection: Who do you need to forgive, and how can you take the first step towards forgiveness today?
Quotes
"Mercy in our modern day is very difficult. Loving Mercy means that we do not just love the mercy God extends to us but we are also we Delight that God extends the same Mercy to others and we follow his example. This is not an easy trait... the holy spirit is calling us to actually love it... and it's hard." [52:03]
"I grew up in a household where holding grudges or keeping count or keeping score was a very easy thing... I have no in between if I rock with you you going to know I rock with you and if I don't you going to know just as equally... Pastor Tyler also reminded me that a lot of times people who tend to be highly prophetic... also have this daily battle when it comes to the response to what you see or feel." [38:03]
"Mercy has the look of going above and beyond. Mercy has a level of intentionality... Grace is important but Mercy causes us to have to sit and lean in a little more... I can't just be hot or cold with my my attitude like I have to... find an in between because I believe in the in between is not only where we get to the mercy, the in between allows us to see the bigger picture." [01:06:19]
"The Bible is giving us an indication that mercy and loving it is possible from each and every one of us... I'm not GNA forgive you until you stop like it's become my firm foundation when the Bible is telling me that Mercy because of his being new Every Morning shouldn't mine be as well." [01:02:35]
"If you are an individual that carries a mercy gift listen I want you to lean into it... your mercy gift is needed... the gift of Mercy is founded in God's mercy towards us as Sinners and is consistently expressed with measurable compassion... if we are living with unforgiveness we are living outside of the will of God." [01:00:00]
"Mercy puts us in a position to where we have to open up our hearts to the hardship of others. Mercy puts us in a space where we now have to not think about ourselves as much but consider the other person... Mercy takes courage and strength to offer Mercy to others where it is undeserved." [01:10:39]
"Mercy is the compassionate treatment of those in need especially when it is within one's power to punish them or harm them... the one thing that we tend to lack is compassion... the reality is is that there's something connected to that compassion and we'll get to that a little later on here in the next few minutes." [57:25]
"Micah... did not make his gift about him... Micah knew that he was set out... he could have laid it on thick... but in it he kept it he kept the main thing the main thing... Micah is actually not looking for smoke he's doing his job and in him doing his job he could have taken it manipulated it he said no I'm not going to beat you over the head with it I'm just going to let you know what it is it's Rebellion." [43:27]
"Micah follows up God literally spoke to him with a message of hope that countered These Warnings and told of the restoration that God would bring to them one day... if he can do it for the rebellious why can't he do it for you if he loved them enough even in their sin and the mess that they were in why wouldn't he be able to come and resurrect you." [45:11]
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