WHEN MERCY MEETS GRACE THERE IS CHANGE.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
I was driving by the local Hardy’s funeral home. They are my dear friends. Then I passed the gas station and I saw Bill Hardy filling up the hearse with gas. I wondered who will be the next to ride in the hearse to the grave yard. If you read my stuff you know I am doing a battle with large cell lymphoma. Yesterday was my third chemo-radiation. Cancer reminds me without prayer I will soon be taking my last ride in the most expensive vehicle coach. This drives me to the thought who can I encourage today.
I was with my dad getting a heart pacemaker in UK hospital. Covid was at an all-time high. In the UK gift shop I saw this plaque: IT SAID: TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO HAVE A GOOD DAY. I decided I will buy that. The shop was closed most of the time. When I wouId go to eat, we had to eat in the room. I finally caught the shop open and I bought the plaque. I look up from the computer and I read the plaque. This has become one of my bottom lines: TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO HAVE A GOOD DAY. You got up this morning, you chose to take a shower or not. The clothes you are wearing was a choice. You made the choice of what mood you will wear today. You will make a choice to go to church or stay home.
What if you died with that frown on your face? I stood with a wife at a casket and she asked the funeral director can’t you get that look off his face? The funeral home man said, I tried to, but I can’t. Your turn will be there one day. WHY NOT REALIZE: TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO HAVE A GOOD DAY. It will be whatever you make it. Why not make today where mercy meets grace?
BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL.
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
*MERCY: TO HAVE COMPASSION, pity and tender love, all mercy comes directly or indirectly from God, and God expects his people to show mercy as he does. To be kind, compassion or forgiveness shown to someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or bring harm to them, to show compassion to those in need instead of punishing them, to forgive.
James 2:13 (MSG) For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.
*TENDER MERCIES: very personal and individualized blessing and strength, to be assured of guided loving kindness, supportive. Tender mercies to put your feelings and words into action.
Colossians 3:12 (NLT2) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
FORGIVE FOR YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN.
REMEMBER A SAMARITAN WAS LIKE COWBOYS AND INDIANS IN THE OLD WEST, LIKE BLACK AND WHITE IN OLD SOUTH AFRICA, LIKE PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS IN OLD IRELAND. REMEMBER THE GOOD SAMATIAN? THERE WAS A CERTAIN PRIEST THAT WALKS BY AND SEES THE HURT SAMARITIAN AND DOES NOTHING. THE LEVITE WALKED BY AND STOPPED AND LOOKED. NO DOUBT WHEN THE LEVITE GOT TO CHURCH HE REQUESTED PRAYER FOR THE HURT MAN…
BUT THE ENEMY STOPPED WITH TENDER MERCIES.
The good Samaritan let the injuried man ride his donkey. The good Samaritan got blisters on his feet from walking and allowing his enemy to ride the donkey.
Luke 10:35 (NLT2) The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ 36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. 37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
GO AND DO LIKE WISE: TENDER MERCIES. The Samaritan saw the victim just as the priest and the Levite DID BUT but they just walked away. The Samaritan got off his donkey and walked closer to the hurt man . He would die without help. As he walked closer he saw the need. Then his heart was moved with mercy and compassion. This compassion demanded action. The hurt man was helpless, he allowed him to ride his donkey. The Samaritan’s feet got dusty and may even blistered. HE CARED, TENDER MERCY. He cared and he did what he could. ARE WE DOING WHAT WE CAN?
*GRACE: God’s favor, God’s help and power, UNDESERVED OR UNMERITED FAVOR ARE A GIFT FROM GOD. Grace is a gift and cannot be earned. To be kind, understanding even when faced with difficulties, to forgive, accept even if they don’t deserve it.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
LET US CONSIDER DIVINE DELIVERANCE. WHY WOULD ANYONE REFUSE DIVINE DELIVERLANCE? REFUSING DELIVERANCE STARTED MANY YEARS AGO WITH ONE DECISION. CHOICES WILL TELL EHEN WE MAKE A CHOICE OF BRIGHT LIGHTS AND SIN. THIS BIRTHS AN ATTITUDE OF LINGERING AND NOT HONORING HIS HERITAGE. WHERE IS YOUR ATTENTION AND FOCUS?
Genesis 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
Many years will pass and it seems Lot has succeeded as he withdrew from Abraham. Many times Abraham is recorded building altars. It is not recorded one time that Lot built an altar. Lot got comfortable in the sin city. Lot’s decisions and lingering and procrastination will get very expensive. Lot was inconsiderate and he chose the easy life of the more fertile fields and the well-watered areas. Separating himself from the altars and blessings. Abraham was unselfish. The Lord blessed his family. Lot distance himself from Abraham and from God’s tender mercies and grace. What a choice?
Genesis 19:16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
THERE IS A SAD STORY REMEMBERED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT… WE DON’T KNOW LOT’S WIFE’S NAME BUT SHE TAUGHT US A LESSON ABOUT DISOBEDIENCE. HOW LOOKING BACK IS REFUSING GOD’S TENDER MERCIES AND GRACE.
Luke 17:13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
There was something back there in Sodom that Lot’s wife loved more than God. She did not want to leave. Something is wrong when we can’t look forward to tender mercies and amazing grace. You refuse to look forward when you are looking backward. There was a direct order “ DON’T LOOK BACK!” If God intended us to look back, your eyes would be in the back of your head and not THE FRONT. Grace and mercy are moving forward. What do we love more behind us than the mercy and grace before us?
LOT BEGGED THE ANGELS PLEASE DON’T SEND ME TO THE MOUNTAINS THAT WILL REQUIRE MUCH EFFORT AND HARD WORK, PLEASE I LIKE THE FLAT, AN EASY WALK. (COMPROMISE) LET ME STAY IN THIS EASY LITTLE PLACE CALLED ZOAR. Lot SEEMED TO LIKE CITY LIFE. Lot lingered, the angel agreed to this permissive will, not the perfect will of God. So Lot and his two daughters moved to the easy life of Zoar. LOT IS NOT SATISFIED IN ZOAR. HE FATHERS HIS GRANDCHILDREN THAT BECOME THE MOABITES AND THE AMMONITES.
Genesis 19:30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.
The permissive will of God misses the grace and tender mercies of God’s plan. Lot was not satisfied in the “LITTLE.” Come to the land of grace and tender mercies.
CONCLUSION: WE WILL NEVER BE CONTENT WITH PITCHING OUR TENTS TOWARD SODOM. WE MUST COME TO THE KNOWLEDE OF ACCEPTING GOD’S GRACE AND TENDER MERCIES. WE ACCEPT HIS GRACE WHEN WE GIVE GRACE AND MERCY.. SHAKE THINGS OFF, QUIT LOOKING BACK AND CRYING AND WORRYING… LOOK FORWARD. WE PLANT THE SEED… GOD GIVES THE INCREASE…. GRACE AND TENDER MERCIES.
Ephesians 4:32 (NLT2) Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
Stats say: 15% of people in church now will leave in the next year? 30% in two? In 5 years 75%? Do something!
