As we look at the beatitudes in the Bible, this time we are going to take a look at mercy. Everyone knows what mercy is right?? So my question today is this. If everyone knows about mercy, why is it so elusive today? Jesus, in his sermon on the mount, said this “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (Matt. 5:7 NIV)
I have to be honest here and tell you that this blog has not been for you. It’s been for me. A place I could put down some thoughts, fears, excitement, and a snapshot of life. Those of you that have left me comments and/or likes are very kind. But to be honest there have been times in my life, and maybe you can relate, where all I do is go from one “like” to another hoping it will be enough to get me through the day, week, or month.
Chasing after the “like” has been a bigger part of my life than I relly care to admit, esipacally since leaving the contracting world. Going from owning and running two successful business (what successful means can be debated) to being a pastor. Some people think (I really should say me), being a pastor means you give up everything. This includes things like money, prominence, opinions, and everything else that can have to do with self-respect. We as pastors do this so as to not get in the way or putting barriers between people and God. It really is a knoble calling. The problem comes when anyone does this, especially pastors, it will lead to quickly burning out.
While the idea is right, putting others ahead of yourself, sometimes how we go about it is wrong. For me, I found myself in a pattern of thinking that I was being asked to go from business leader to a sheep being led to the slaughter. You know, just like Jesus did. A very knoble purpose of being sacrificed by and for God. What I didn’t realize was that the position of sacrifical lamb was already taken and was only ment for the Son of God. When you find yourself at that point it is truly like looking off the edge of a cliff.
What I have found instead, is that only when we become broken to ourselves can God really start to build. We pastors find that this preaches very well and really easy to others but we really don’t like to hear it for ourselves very often. But this is where you truly find the mercy of God.
This past year for me has been one of true testing. Not the kind of testing we see in most of our lives. Like a testing of trials and decisions but rather a testing of sabbath and listening. Because I am such a superior student what takes most people a few weeks only has taken me about nine months.
So what have I learned? I have learned that no matter who you are or what you think you may be ready for, you’re not. The crushing. It’s the crushing that you’re not ready for. The crushing of dreams, the crushing of relationships, the crushing of career. All these things can and will be crushed by God if that’s what it takes to refine one of his children. That is where true mercy can be found.
Mercy is found when you come to the end of you and you recognize that this is precisely where God begins. God will not compete for leader in your life but his mercy is there when you are crushed and looking for a Savior. When you get to this point you start to see the pain and crushing that others are going through too. It is at this end that mercy for others will start to shine and bloom in your mind and life.
When we start to see the need to build others up instead of tearing them down we will understand mercy. That is when we too will see the mercy of God in our lives. Thanks be to God, the creator of heaven and earth and the one who is truly merciful.
Have a great day and be merciful to others!!
ETHOS 4 LIFE 