Fields United Methodist Church

Jesus Along the Way: Words of Grace and Hope.                      Pastor Tom Joyce

September 23, 2020

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36

God is a God of love, grace and mercy. God’s love extends to all people; God does not discriminate. It is easy to love those who love us, easy to love those who are “easy to love.” But what about those with whom we disagree, those who have hurt us, do we love them? The answer is the cross of Jesus. Imagine the pain that was inflicted on Jesus by those who hated him yet he proclaimed in the last moments of his earthly life, “forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Think of it this way, you have been given mercy just by virtue of living your life.  In response to God’s mercy, you are then called to share that same mercy to others, not just those we know and love.  In others words, make someone else feel as cherished and honored as you have been honored and cherished by God as Isaiah 43:4 proclaims, “you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you.” It feels good to be loved, so pass it forward! Imagine the relationships that would be started and strengthened simply by witnessing the love of God through Jesus to someone else!

Think of all the people you have met along the way, those who have cut you off in traffic, those who treat you harshly or who have caused harm to others; it is easy to write them off yet Jesus reaches out to them with the same hand of grace as he reaches out to you. Someone once wrote, “be kind, everyone is fighting a battle.” Perhaps the person who is speeding to reach their destination to your disdain is rushing to the hospital to be with a loved one. Maybe the person who is angry is angry with themselves for things left undone in their lives. Mercy is about understanding where someone else is coming from and offering the comfort and compassion of Christ to them.  Bottom line is this, offer mercy, as you have most certainly received mercy from God, and “your reward will be great, and you will be children of the most high God.” (Luke 6:35)

Rev. Tom Joyce