Kimmer: May 2006

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Mercy

Today's message at church was on Mercy - reminding us how Jesus wasn't just good to those who were good to them, He was merciful even to those who were very insulting to Him... how this is the nature of God and one the attributes of God, which He chooses to reveal to us in Ex 34:6 that He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (wow - I love that verse.)
These same attributes of God are again echoed in Ps 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness
Ps 116:5 The Lord is gracious and righteous, our God is full of compassion
Ps 145:8-9 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made
Lam 3:22-23 ....The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness
We were reminded that it is easy to forget to be merciful when people are unkind to us, and that we need to resolve to be merciful whether we think someone deserves it or not... that the focus of mercy is to love people and reach out to them as Jesus did. We are emulating Jesus when we are showing mercy.
Micah 6:8 what does the Lord require of you but to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God