mercy – I AM for You!

Does the same word mean different things to different people? I grew up learning the definitions of words from the context of the experiences I was in. Did you? No, I don’t mean the context of the experiences you were in, but the experiences I was in. Of course not, you say. And herein lies the problem… or opportunity. When I say, “father” what do I mean? I think of my father. If I am trying to describe to you my relationship with my Heavenly Father do you instantly think of my father? Or, your own father?

I believe some people hate God the Father because they are really thinking He is like their own father. And their earthly fathers did not fulfill their expectations at best, and were evil to them at worst. Satan can encourage real or imagined hurts to grow into bitterness. So when I talk of my Heavenly Father what do I mean?

Jesus is the exact representation of the invisible God (Isaiah 1:16).

When Jesus was born He was called: wonderful counselor, mighty God, EVERLASTING FATHER, prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6). Because Jesus was and is God’s Only Begotten Son, He can perfectly represent God the Father to us.

So what is the character of this Father? Jesus was patient, even when His disciples got it wrong again and again (as I would have gotten it wrong as well), Jesus was kind, even when it cost Him. And forgiving too. He didn’t repay evil for evil. When He was dying on the cross He prayed for His murderers (the religious leaders) and tried to help them discover His Forever Love by reminding them of Messianic Scripture. Though God the Father created all things by Him and for Him, He was not proud. He humbly seeks a relationship with us. He never forces Himself on us. He doesn’t hold our past mistakes and sins against us. He loves us with all that He is no matter what we do or what anyone or anything else does. He believes the best about us and encourages us to become all He created us to be. He does not fail. (See I Corinthians 13 and substitute “Jesus” for “Love”).

Does this sound like a Father you would like to have? You can. Just ask Him to forgive your wrongs and come into your life and heart. He is waiting. And you two have so much to talk about!

1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
We are to judge actions but not motives. We judge the what and not the why. The Bible judges many actions: murder, adultery, theft. But the person was created in the image of God and only God is all-wise and all-knowing enough to truly know why someone did something.

2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
When you judge someone what you are really saying is that if you were in that person’s circumstances and you did what they did you would be thinking a certain evil. This would be based on the fact that you had a similar experience in the past. And so the measure you use for them is the measure you gave yourself.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
Instead of looking at your brother’s fault, look at his need.

4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
If you don’t see your brother’s need you cannot meet your brother’s need.

5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Forgive your brother his fault, assess the need and address the need.

6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
Unbelievers will reject God’s wisdom (and you) until they are ready to receive it.

(Jesus words from Matthew 5:1-6, NIV84)
(My imperfect understanding of the passage.)

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Category: mercy

What’s in a name?

Why not judge others?