Word to consider…...Mercy

Mercy: compassion (human or divine, especially active) kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly

James exhorted believers of Christ Jesus to be mindful that mercy triumphs over judgement. This truth is demonstrated by God toward all mankind in that while we were dead in our trespasses and sin Christ died for us. God is merciful. (full of mercy)

Remember the words of our Lord Jesus, blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.

How often have each of us needed, pleaded for and/or relied on the mercy of God? Even so, should we not also extend the same mercy to others?

I am forever mindful of God’s mercy as He forgives. My earnest desire for us as the body of Christ the church is that we too would be merciful (full of mercy) to all.

Word to consider… Endure…..Endurance

Endure: to stay under (behind), that is, remain; figuratively to undergo, that is, bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere: - abide, endure, (take) patiently, suffer, tarry behind.

Endurance: the ability to do something difficult for a long time, the ability to deal with pain or suffering that continues for a long time, the quality of continuing for a long time

Paul exhorted Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Jesus Christ and in the things he had heard from him. Telling him that he must endure hardship (be afflicted, endure hardness, suffer trouble) as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Paul also told him to not get or be entangled with the affairs of this life.

We understand this exhortation is pertinent for us today. I find that the hardness we must endure is not only persecutions, trials and tribulations for His name sake but of the hardness of life on earth. For we all suffer. Whether it is the suffering of loss, relationships or expectations. Most often life on earth is not what we expect or determine it should be, or how it should be.

Yet for all our suffering we must not allow our hearts to harden to the one that endured the death of the cross for the joy set before Him. Our King Jesus.

Therefore I exhort you in all things to endure knowing that the trying of our faith (in God)  produces patience. Patience perfected produces maturity and wholeness and we lack nothing. For God has already given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.

The wisdom of Solomon said, that if we faint in the day of adversity our strength is weak indeed! 
Be strong and of good courage for the Lord our God is with us!

A modern day parable….

This year southern California’s winter has seen cold weather many have never experienced. The homeless migrate to this area for the normally tolerable cold weather. However, this year it has been different. Here is the parable…..

A man, called a  Bishop recognized the severity of the weather conditions for the homeless and writes a scathing but heartfelt post on Facebook about the lack of response from the churches. He ask what would Jesus do and speaks about building relationships to reach our cities. He addresses these questions to all with an emphasis on small and mega churches. One person responded in agreement and said we need to come together to do something.

Another man saw a few homeless people. One homeless man was lying on a bench trying to sleep shivering from the cold. This man took his jacket and put it on the man and considered what more can I do. He also took to Facebook and wrote a post. It was simple and to the point. The post said, I saw homeless people visibly cold, he went on to say that on a certain day he would be at a certain place giving blankets to the homeless and invited others that have an extra blanket to come and help.

Now my question is which of these two men are the true church of God, the body of Christ?  

Word to Consider.....Persecution

Persecution: to constantly annoy or bother (someone) treat (someone) cruelly or unfairly especially because of race or religious or political beliefs, to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict; specifically :  to cause to suffer because of belief

I was recently asked what is persecution. The person asking was referring to someone (identified as a Christian) in which the media was reporting on with a slanted view in their opinion.  Their question made me consider, what truly is persecution for a believer and what is our response?

In the bible Jesus tells us that we are blessed when men revile us, persecute us and say all manner of evil against us falsely for His name sake. The words I want you to focus on are, falsely and for His name sake. As believers we learn that persecution is about Jesus not us.  The accusation/behavior toward us is false, meaning it is not warranted, it is not true, it is not justified.  I must state that the truth I am referring to is not based upon perception, it’s based upon fact. (evidence)

Jesus also tells us very important information about the persecution of His people. He tells us that it from the  synagogues, i.e. churches, not the world. He also tells us that it is from men, not the devil. He reminds us that we are not greater than He is and as His servants we will suffer the same as He did. Remember He came to His own people and was rejected and crucified. Yet, He was harmless (He harmed no one) in word or deed.

Interestingly enough this is forgotten doctrine. Jesus tell us to love our enemies, to bless them that curse us, to do good to them that hate us, to pray for them which despitefully use us and persecute us. He tells us to flee not fight. He tells us in doing these things we will glorify Him.

This is behavior of the true church, the body of Christ!