Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. ~ Matthew 5:7

Oh, how we need to hear this! After taking a big step up this stairway to heaven and stirring up a hunger and thirst for righteousness, what do you know, my spirit gets all, well, judgmental! I am a wreck. The more I see Jesus, the more I am amazed. Here is the One who never – ever – no never darkened a commandment with the slightest nod, but does He get all stirred up about sinners and their sin? Nope! He has lunch with harlots and protects the virtue of an adulteress. He goes out to dinner with the drunkards and hangs out with the worst vermin of all, tax collectors.

We have to get this. Have you ever used the line – I love the sinner but hate their sin? Are you aware that there is no chapter and verse for that? I have heard this used as an excuse for hate on more occasions than you can image.

If I am brutally honest with myself I wonder if I would have been the Pharisee in Jesus’ day. Is He talking to me when He says:

“But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” – Matthew 9:13

Have you read in Paul’s second letter to Corinth where he tells them (us):

…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them… – 2 Corinthians 5:19

Do you read this the way I have for decades, “God is not counting Christian’s sins against them?” That’s not what it says. If He did we are all without hope.

God is not counting anyone’s sins against them today! Today is the day of mercy and the day that grace is available!

A quick comment about the difference:

Mercy is the fact that God is not counting your sin against you. This is currently true for all men. You will have to give an account on the last day, but today, there is nothing keeping you from approaching God.

Grace, on the other hand, is the free offer of righteousness that is extended to every man. It must be accepted and received.

So here is the deal, and it’s pretty straight up here. If you expect to receive mercy on any level, give it in the same measure your hoping to receive. In this moment of grace, don’t impose condemnation where God does not.

In the meantime, we must keep up our pursuit of integrity, our submission to God’s voice, our honesty with God about our failings, and our humble spirit. WOW! These beatitudes are not just kid stuff, are they?

Thanks for stopping in.

There’s a lot more ahead. Don’t miss it!

Ben