Friday, September 20, 2013

If You Get Mercy You Must Give Mercy

My Utmost For His Highest
 
The true expression of Christian character is not in good-doing, but in God-likeness. If the Spirit of God has transformed you within, you will exhibit divine characteristics in your life, not just good human characteristics. God’s life in us expresses itself as God’s life, not as human life trying to be godly. The secret of a Christian’s life is that the supernatural becomes natural in him as a result of the grace of God, and the experience of this becomes evident in the practical, everyday details of life, not in times of intimate fellowship with God. And when we come in contact with things that create confusion and a flurry of activity, we find to our own amazement that we have the power to stay wonderfully poised even in the center of it all.’ CHAMBERS
 
In the parable of the unforgiving servant, the servant wanted to be treated with grace and mercy by the king, but was unwilling to treat others in the same way himself. (Matthew 18:21-25)  We love because God first loved us.  We forgive because we are forgiven. That is what God expects of us.  We can do good things and treat others well, when they treat us that way.  But those who don’t .. well that is a horse of a different color.  (Romans 5:8) “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
 
What is the implication here about how we respond to others .. maybe others who offend us? With harshness or with the same love that God showed us.  We both know what the right answer is.  The problem is not in the knowing, it’s in the doing.  And we cannot “do” that which reflects God unless His Spirit is leading us and His Word is lighting our path.  We need to stop making excuses for our sin, set our hearts right and show the love of Jesus to those around us … especially to those who are in need of grace and mercy .. just like us.
 
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

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