Embracing the Command of Mercy in Our Lives

Devotional

Day 1: Mercy as a Reflection of God's Character

Mercy is a profound reflection of God's character, contrasting with justice, which is receiving what one deserves. Mercy, on the other hand, is not receiving the punishment one deserves. This divine attribute is not just an option for believers but a command, as seen in Romans 12:8. When believers show mercy, it should be done with cheerfulness, lifting others from despair and pointing them towards hope in God. This cheerful mercy is a testament to God's forgiveness and love, encouraging others to trust in His goodness. [01:11]

Psalm 103:8-10 (ESV): "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you can choose mercy over justice today. How can you reflect God's character in this situation by offering mercy with cheerfulness?

Day 2: The Misapplication of Mercy

The story of Job and his friends serves as a cautionary tale about the misapplication of mercy. Instead of comforting Job in his time of suffering, his friends accused him of hidden sins, failing to show true mercy. True mercy is not about making others feel guilty but about encouraging them with hope and confidence in God's future plans. It is about lifting others up and pointing them towards the hope found in God, rather than adding to their burden. [06:26]

James 2:13 (ESV): "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."

Reflection: Consider someone in your life who is struggling. How can you offer them true mercy today, encouraging them with hope and confidence in God's plans?

Day 3: God's Abundant and Unmerited Mercy

God's mercy is vast and everlasting, not something we earn but a reflection of His character. The story of Jacob reminds us of our unworthiness and God's abundant mercy, as Jacob acknowledged his blessings despite his past deceit. This mercy is a testament to God's nature, described in Scripture as the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. As believers, we are called to emulate this mercy, recognizing that it is not optional but a requirement. [11:34]

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you received mercy you did not deserve. How can you extend that same unmerited mercy to someone else today?

Day 4: Mercy as a Requirement for Believers

Being merciful is not optional but a requirement for believers. Jesus emphasizes that the measure we use will be the measure we receive, tying our receiving mercy to our willingness to show mercy. This principle calls believers to actively practice mercy, understanding that it is a reflection of God's character and a command for all who follow Him. As we show mercy, we align ourselves with God's will and open ourselves to receive His mercy in return. [25:32]

Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you struggle to show mercy. What steps can you take today to align your actions with God's requirement to be merciful?

Day 5: Reflecting God's Mercy in a Challenging World

As believers, we are called to reflect God's mercy, kindness, and forgiveness to others, even in a world that may be antagonistic towards these values. Through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live out these characteristics, becoming vessels of God's love and mercy. This calling challenges us to be counter-cultural, showing mercy and love in situations where it may not be expected or appreciated. By doing so, we become a testament to God's transformative power in our lives. [45:27]

Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: In what ways can you be a vessel of God's mercy in your community today? How can you show kindness and forgiveness in a specific situation you are facing?

Sermon Summary

In our study of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we focus on the gift of showing mercy, as highlighted in Romans 12:8. Mercy is not merely an option but a command for all believers, whether or not they possess the specific gift of mercy. Mercy is contrasted with justice; while justice is receiving what one deserves, mercy is not receiving the punishment one deserves. God exemplifies this through His forgiveness and mercy towards us. When we show mercy, it should be done with cheerfulness, lifting others from despair and pointing them towards hope in God.

The story of Job and his friends illustrates how mercy can be misapplied. Job's friends, instead of comforting him, accused him of hidden sins, failing to show true mercy. True mercy, however, is cheerful and confident in God's future plans, encouraging others to trust in God's goodness and forgiveness. God is the ultimate source of mercy, and His mercies are not something we earn but are a reflection of His character. Jacob's story reminds us of our unworthiness and God's abundant mercy, as he acknowledged his blessings despite his past deceit.

Scripture is replete with references to God's mercy, describing Him as the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. His mercy is vast, from everlasting to everlasting, and is a fundamental aspect of His nature. As believers, we are called to emulate God's mercy, being merciful as our Father is merciful. This is not optional but a requirement, as seen in Micah 6:8 and Zechariah 7:9. Jesus ties our receiving mercy to our willingness to show mercy, emphasizing that the measure we use will be the measure we receive.

God's mercy is extended to those who love Him, keep His commandments, and call upon Him. It is not limited to the New Testament but is a consistent theme throughout the Bible. Both the Old and New Testaments reveal God's mercy, grace, and judgment. As we relate to God, we must reflect His mercy, kindness, and forgiveness to others, even in a world that may be antagonistic towards these values. Through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live out these characteristics, becoming vessels of God's love and mercy in a world that desperately needs it.

Key Takeaways

1. **Mercy vs. Justice:** Mercy is not receiving the punishment we deserve, contrasting with justice, which is receiving what we deserve. God's mercy is a reflection of His character, and we are called to show mercy with cheerfulness, lifting others from despair and pointing them towards hope in God. [01:11]
2. Misapplied Mercy: The story of Job and his friends illustrates how mercy can be misapplied. True mercy is not about making others feel guilty but about encouraging them with hope and confidence in God's future plans. [06:26]
3. God's Abundant Mercy: God's mercy is vast and everlasting, not something we earn but a reflection of His character. Jacob's story reminds us of our unworthiness and God's abundant mercy, as he acknowledged his blessings despite his past deceit. [11:34]
4. Mercy as a Requirement: Being merciful is not optional but a requirement for believers. Jesus ties our receiving mercy to our willingness to show mercy, emphasizing that the measure we use will be the measure we receive. [25:32]
5. Reflecting God's Mercy: As believers, we are called to reflect God's mercy, kindness, and forgiveness to others, even in a world that may be antagonistic towards these values. Through the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live out these characteristics, becoming vessels of God's love and mercy. [45:27]
** [45:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:21] - Introduction to Mercy
[00:44] - Mercy vs. Justice
[01:47] - The Gift of Mercy
[02:51] - Misapplied Mercy
[04:26] - Job's Friends and Mercy
[06:50] - Cheerful Mercy
[08:21] - God's Nature of Mercy
[09:17] - Jacob's Story of Mercy
[12:15] - Scriptures on God's Mercy
[15:24] - God's Self-Description
[17:28] - Misconceptions of God
[19:19] - The Vastness of God's Mercy
[22:17] - Mercy from Everlasting to Everlasting
[23:53] - Command to Be Merciful
[25:32] - Mercy as a Requirement
[27:46] - Receiving Mercy
[31:54] - To Whom is God's Mercy Revealed
[35:32] - Calling Upon God's Mercy
[39:26] - Old and New Testament Mercy
[42:08] - Relating to God
[45:27] - Empowerment by the Holy Spirit
[48:04] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Gift of Mercy

Bible Reading:

Romans 12:8 - "If it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."
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."
Matthew 5:7 - "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

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Observation Questions:

How does Romans 12:8 describe the manner in which mercy should be shown? What does this imply about the attitude we should have when showing mercy? [01:47]
In the sermon, how is mercy contrasted with justice? What examples are given to illustrate this contrast? [00:44]
What was the reaction of Job to his friends' attempts at showing mercy, and what does this reveal about their understanding of true mercy? [06:26]
How does the story of Jacob illustrate the concept of unearned mercy, and what was Jacob's response to God's mercy? [11:34]

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Interpretation Questions:

What does it mean to show mercy with cheerfulness, and why might this be important in lifting others from despair? [07:14]
How does the sermon suggest that our understanding of God's mercy should influence our interactions with others, especially those who may not share our values? [43:32]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that mercy is a reflection of God's character, and how are believers called to emulate this attribute? [08:21]
How does the sermon connect the concept of receiving mercy with the willingness to show mercy, and what implications does this have for personal relationships? [27:46]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a recent situation where you had the opportunity to show mercy. Did you do it cheerfully? If not, how might you approach it differently next time? [07:14]
Consider a time when you felt judged rather than supported by others. How did that experience affect you, and how can it inform the way you show mercy to others? [06:26]
How can you actively cultivate a heart of mercy in your daily interactions, especially with those who may not deserve it by worldly standards? [08:21]
Think of someone in your life who is struggling. What specific actions can you take to lift them from despair and point them towards hope in God? [07:14]
How does understanding God's mercy towards you change the way you view justice and forgiveness in your own life? [00:44]
Identify a person or situation where you have been withholding mercy. What steps can you take this week to extend mercy and reflect God's character? [43:32]
How can you ensure that your actions and attitudes reflect the mercy of God, even in a world that may be antagonistic towards these values? [43:32]

Sermon Clips

Mercy is contrasted with justice for justice is getting what you deserve and so many times we say of a person boy I'll tell you he got exactly what he deserved, that's justice when you get just what you deserve but not getting what you deserve is mercy I deserve justice but God gives me mercy. [00:00:53]

When Job was going through all of his trials and these friends of Job came to comfort him, rather than showing mercy they were seeking to discover the cause of all of his problems and they each one had their theory why Job was going through all of the suffering and misery that he was experiencing. [00:04:26]

There are those who come along to show mercy and they are so cheerful and so confident about the future they can lift you out of your despair and that's the way we are to show mercy, not with a somber well I don't know we'll try and work this out together you know I'll always stand with you brother. [00:07:21]

God is the source of all mercy and comfort it's not something that we deserve or have coming that's justice that's what we deserve and have coming but it Springs Mercy Springs from the very character and nature of God Jacob realized how unworthy he was of God's mercy he said I'm not worthy the least of his mercies. [00:08:16]

The mercies of God he recognized I'm undeserving I'm unworthy of what God has done and as we look at our lives and as we see what God has done we realize that it's not something that we deserve truly the Lord has been good to us and he has been merciful to us and the blessings that God has bestowed upon our lives. [00:11:32]

The Bible describes the vastness of God's mercy it says he is plenteous in mercy he is merciful and gracious it says slow to anger and plenteous in mercy Psalm 103 11 for as the heaven is high above the earth so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. [00:19:13]

We are commanded in the scriptures to be merciful in Luke 636 B II therefore merciful as your father also is merciful in other words your to take on this characteristic of God's nature being a child of God your to be merciful as your father also is merciful. [00:23:35]

Jesus seemed to tie our showing mercy to our receiving mercy and many of the graces that God bestows upon us are often tied to our bestowing those same Grace's on others as we were talking just recently concerning forgiveness we are told that God is the standard or the major for forgiveness. [00:26:37]

We actually set the standard for the measurement for our own judgment and whatsoever measure you meet it out as far as judge, that's the same measurement by which you will be judged now we are so merciful when it comes to ourselves and the forgiving of ourselves for what we have done that we know to be wrong. [00:28:34]

As we relate to God, we relate to God in one of two ways a friend and servant of God seeking to do as well or as a rebel against God doing our own well in seeking to relate to God in love and a loving relationship submission we experience then the glorious grace goodness forgiveness kindness and blessing. [00:42:08]

We can do it through the anointing and the power of the Holy Spirit that's what the Holy Spirit is all about it's to do for you what you can't do for yourself it's to transform that nature of the flesh and bring you into the realm of the Spirit walking in the spirit living in the spirit the Spirit of God dwelling in you. [00:45:27]

Help us Lord Phyllis Lord make us your instruments Lord to bring your love and your peace your beauty your grace and your mercy to a world that needs it so desperately in Jesus name we pray amen. [00:48:04]

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Embracing the Command of Mercy in Our Lives

Devotional

Day 1: Mercy as a Reflection of God's Character

Day 2: The Misapplication of Mercy

Day 3: God's Abundant and Unmerited Mercy

Day 4: Mercy as a Requirement for Believers

Day 5: Reflecting God's Mercy in a Challenging World

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing the Command of Mercy in Our Lives

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