This sermon encourages believers to deeply understand and embody God's love and mercy, extending it to all, including enemies, through forgiveness, generosity, and righteousness.
Good morning, beloved. I want you to cast your minds back to the time when you first encountered the transforming power of God's love. That moment when a divine spark ignited your heart, and you felt the warm embrace of our Heavenly Father. We've all had that experience, haven't we? The experience that forever altered the course of our lives, making us soldiers in the army of Christ, ambassadors of His love and mercy.
Today, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a new understanding of that love and mercy. We are not here to merely skim the surface, but to plunge into the depths of God's word, to immerse ourselves in the life-giving waters of His wisdom. We will not just be spectators, but active participants in His divine narrative.
In the words of Charles Spurgeon, "Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years." So, let us turn our hearts and minds to the Scripture for today, Luke 6:27-38:
"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
In the heart of the scripture we read today, we find a profound call to embody a divine quality that is often misunderstood and overlooked - mercy. Mercy is not just about forgiving those who have wronged us, but it's about showing kindness and compassion even when it's not deserved. It's about choosing to love when it's easier to hate, choosing to give when it's easier to withhold, choosing to bless when it's easier to curse. It's about reflecting the heart of our Heavenly Father, who "is kind to the ungrateful and the evil."
Now, let's think about this for a moment. How can we show mercy in a world that seems so devoid of it? How can we be kind to those who are ungrateful and evil? It's not easy, is it? But remember, we are not called to do what's easy, but what's right. We are not called to follow the ways of the world, but the ways of our Father.
Firstly, we must understand that mercy begins with a change of heart. It's not something that can be forced or faked. It's a genuine outpouring of love and compassion that comes from a heart transformed by God's love. It's about seeing people through God's eyes, understanding their struggles, their pain, their humanity. It's about recognizing that we are all broken in some way, and we all need mercy.
Secondly, mercy is not just about our actions, but our attitudes as well. It's not enough to just do good deeds, we must also have a merciful heart. This means letting go of judgment, resentment, and bitterness. It means choosing to see the best in people, even when they show us their worst. It means treating others with kindness and respect, even when they don't deserve it.
Thirdly, mercy requires courage. It's not for the faint of heart. It takes courage to love those who hate us, to bless those who curse us, to pray for those who abuse us. It takes courage to stand up for what's right, even when it's unpopular. But remember, we are not alone in this. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us, to strengthen us, to empower us. With God on our side, we can be bold and courageous in showing mercy.
Lastly, mercy is a choice. It's not something that just happens, it's something we choose to do. Every day, we have the opportunity to choose mercy over judgment, love over hate, forgiveness over resentment. And every time we choose mercy, we are choosing to reflect the heart of our Father, to be His hands and feet in this world.
As we continue to immerse ourselves in the teachings of Luke 6:27-38, we find ourselves confronted with the challenge of mastering morality ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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