March 7, 2018

Extend Mercy and Grace

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. – Matthew 23:23

What does it mean to show mercy to someone? My dictionary said it is compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.

What is justice? A concern for justice, peace and genuine respect for people. Also even-handedness with a lack of bias.

What is faithfulness? Constant, loyal, stable and dependable.

Who are you holding a grudge against? Who have you condemned as unworthy?  Who do you avoid as being unworthy?

I’m sure you are doing it all in Christ’s name.

We are to be faithful to the words of Christ – even when it hurts. We are to treat everyone the same – even when someone else appears worthier. We are to show mercy – even when the other person refuses to admit guilt.

It isn’t enough to tithe. Sure, that’s important. It’s also important to attend church, pray daily and study your Bible. But living a life of true faith is so much more than that. It’s about letting go of the ugliness that binds you, not because someone else deserves it but because it’s what Jesus expects of you.

The Pharisees were all about rules. No one could live up to their standards. They were quite proud of themselves and didn’t hesitate to look down on the lesser Jews, the gentiles, all those who weren’t “pure” in the eyes of the law the Pharisees had created.

But that wasn’t what God wanted at all. Sure, He gave us rules and standards to live by. Think about the Ten Commandments. But all that other stuff? It was never about God and living for and worshipping Him.

The Pharisees wanted to place as many obstacles as they could in the path of those who longed to be righteous. They wanted to hold themselves separate and above all the rest of us. We see that today, don’t we? Every time someone doesn’t dress “appropriately” for church. Every time someone doesn’t know the books of the Bible in the correct order. Every time someone admits a less than perfect past.

We are so quick to condemn. We are so confident in our judgements, our words and actions that betray a dark soul. We’re so sure of our own righteousness that we forget it is only by God’s mercy and Jesus’ sacrifice that we can approach His throne at all. None of us are worthy. None of us.

So if you’re on your own pedestal, certain of how “good” you are and how “bad” someone else surely is, get down on level ground with the rest of us. We all need a Savior. We all deserve another chance. Is it easy? Not always. Do it anyway. We all are clothed in mercy that we are meant to extend to others.