Saturday, May 16, 2009
Be merciful
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? -Mic 6:8
1. To yourself
As Christians, we need to strive for excellence, but not perfectionism. It is an emotional sickness.
Excellence is just simply doing our best.
God loves us with his agape love. He is merciful to us by sending Jesus to die for us.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed -Rom 3:23-25
God loves us even if we are not perfect. It's not conditional which is based on one's performance rather than on one's being. Therefore, a perfectionist cannot be happy in this state of mind because nothing he ever does is perfect and therefore not good enough—and he can never feel loved for who he is.
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.- Mat 5:48What then does "perfect" in the bible mean? It means complete, whole or mature.
In other words, being perfect, is progressive. A baby doesn't mature immediately and talks like a 40 year old man. Similarly, being perfect is a process.
Slowly, as we abide in Him, we bear the fruits of being perfect.
He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit - Jhn 15:5
Only to be release from this "perfectionism" mindset, that we truely can have the joy of the Lord.
2. To your neighbours.
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself" has appeared at least 9 times through the bible.
(Lev 19:18, Mat 19:19, 22:39, Mrk 12:31, Luk 10:27, Jhn 13:34 Rom 13:9, Gal 5:14, Js 2:8)
And in Mrk 12:31 is it said that, "There is no other commandment greater than these."
A friend loves at all times -Pro 17:17
It is regardless of what he/she does. We are not perfect and we do not expect others to be perfect too.
3. To your enemies.
It's easy to love those who love you- like your family, your siblings, your friends, your bf/gf. Anyone could do that.
What makes us so different then?
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you -Mat 5:43-44
In the book of 1 Sam, Saul attempted to kill David twice. But he was preempted. However, David did not kill Saul even though God was with Him and delivered his enemy into his hands.
That's what David said to Saul:
And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the LORD, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.” -1 Sam 26:24
What shall we do then?
They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, And fought against me without a cause. In return for my love they are my accusers, But I give myself to prayer. -Ps 109:3-4
Pray that...
1. We are not afraid to be merciful.
Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “ Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” -Isa 35:4
2. We will not be weary of doing good.
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. -Gal 6:9
3. We will forgive and love- give them what they need, not what they deserve.
And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. -Mrk 11:25
Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” -Luk 7:47
4. We will do these (stated above) depending on the joy of the Lord.
Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. -Neh 8:10
