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.

April 22, 2016

God Provides Justice

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” -- Luke 18:1-8

Some people have a great faith in our judicial system. I’m not one of them.

I realize it’s impossible for judges and juries to always make the right decision. But I also believe our judicial system is flawed, especially when it comes to those who can’t speak for themselves.

I’m talking about children. Right now we are reeling from a judge’s decision to reconcile a baby with his mother. I guess I just believe that a mother who either failed to protect her baby (and never reported injuries) or abused that baby, should never get him back. Ever.

The judge has a different opinion. Stories of children returned to abusive homes only to be permanently injured or killed keep running through my head. Not this baby, I beg God. Not this sweet child!

Years ago a couple divorced when their child was still a baby. The mother didn’t want custody and so his daddy raised him. Sometimes the mother would get him on the weekend. Sometimes she cancelled at the last minute because something better came along. His daddy was his constant caregiver.

Years later she met someone else and had another child. Suddenly she decided she wanted her first little boy to live with her. That child was ripped from a good home, against his wishes. Why? Because a mother who didn’t want him changed her mind?

In both cases, the courts put the wishes of the mother above the best interests of the child. Yeah. I know. Outside looking in. Except I know these cases well and it breaks my heart.

That little boy lived with his mother until the day he was old enough to decide for himself where he would live. He’s back with his Dad, where he should have been all along. It’s an answer to prayer and we are thankful.

The other little boy, that baby, well, all we can do is pray for his safety. We continue to pray that God will intervene. This baby who raises his tiny hand in worship, this child who is learning to love Jesus, should have that chance to serve His God.

I don’t plan to back away from this. I don’t plan to go quietly. None of us do. We want to bug God, to plead with Him, to ask for justice for this little boy. He deserves protection. We all do.

We serve a God of justice and mercy. He takes care of His children, especially the little ones who have no voice of their own.