Have Mercy!

There is a great need in the world around us. People are hurting. People are in need. People are desperate. People are hopeless. Those of us who have been changed by God through the forgiveness of our sins have been given hope. We can provide hopeless people with the hope they desire. We can give people help in their desperation. We can lead them to the only one who can heal them. Beyond the spiritual and emotional realm, we can help physical needs as well. In a society of such excess, we can spare enough money to help someone with rent or food or bills, if they need it. We can give someone probably an entire wardrobe right from our huge walk-in closet. We have enough space to house a family without a place to stay. Our pantry is likely stocked with enough food to feed a family of 12. So what exactly is our excuse?
We are not often known as people who show mercy. Most church going folks do their time on Sunday morning, maybe go back Sunday night and one night a week for Bible study or prayer. That ought to do it. And please, do not hold me up when I’m on my way to church with your flat tire, or hungry belly…Too bad, so sad. I’m busy doing what pleases God! Right? Isn’t that exactly what happened to the man in the parable Jesus told? The two religious leaders were too busy with godly business (or should I say “busyness”) to bother with that dying man. It took someone from across the railroad tracks, from the bad part of town, one who looked and spoke different than them to take care of him. He showed mercy to him. He got his hands dirty. He did what he had to do. This is our responsibility, as Jesus tells us all in Luke 10. God, please soften our hearts to desire your will, and not stay busy with our own idea of what we think you want us to do, individually and corporately as a body of believers!

Luke 10:25-37
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2010:25-37&version=ESV


Great sermon about Mercy
http://www.churchcloud.com/ocean-park-baptist-church/sermon/the-gift-of-mercy/