The Function of Worship is Foundational: We Look for When to be Kind

Scripture: Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Insights: The KJV uses the word mercy and I think mercy carries a stronger sense of this phrase.  Kindness can and ought to be shown to all people.  Mercy on the other hand carries with it the idea of showing kindness to one less fortunate than one self.  It also implies getting one’s hands dirty by going down to where the individual of less substance may dwell and work with them where they are.  Just like with justice, how can we love mercy if we are not presently experiencing God’s mercy in our lives.  Titus 3:5 states, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”  Notice our salvation was not based on our deeds, but on His mercy.  Jesus was in perfect glory.  He was not limited in any way and yet He lowered Himself and became a human being.  He was, during those thirty-three years, confined to one location at a time.  He experienced hunger, thirst and pain.  He did not have to experience any of these things, but His love and mercy for us was so great He was compelled to intervene in human history and make a permanent way of restoration to Himself for His created beings.  It is from this example that we also must go to those who may make us feel uncomfortable and show them mercy.  We are just as compelled to extend the hand of grace to them as Jesus did for us.  The individuals the Lord puts in our paths are not worthy of our assistance, but neither were we worthy of assistance from others, including Jesus.  In some ways, Beloved, that is the whole point.  Jesus died for us.  Jesus died for those less fortunate than us.  None of us was worthy of salvation.  We all received mercy and we are told by our Lord that He loves everyone of His creations.  We, as His born again servants, are to be His hands, His feet and His mouth piece as we show His mercy to them.  All of God’s creation is unworthy, but because Jesus sees worth in all of us, we are worthy in His eyes.  He establishes the worth and value of a soul and we then experience a radical life change and seek to help others meet this Savior who saved us.

Questions:

1.  In what ways are you able to display mercy for those who are in need of grace?

2.  Are you able to count the ways in which the Lord has shown mercy to you?

Prayer: Father, thank You for showing mercy to me.  Even while I was an enemy of the cross You displayed Your love and mercy to me by sending Jesus to die on the cross on behalf of my sin.  Let me now, O Lord, go and display the same kind of mercy to others.  Amen.