It’s Friday…Mercy Demands It

We live in a truth-impaired world, don’t we? Everywhere we look proves it. We always need to be careful to read between the lines, to check out the fine print, to see through the smokescreen, and ignore the rumors and innuendo. The people we meet will usually put forth the image of themselves and of others they want us to see. Most people have their own spin on the truth with which, even unknowingly, tries to influence others. By the time we wade through the slanted news-tellers and cultural spin-doctors, we can hardly see straight.

“We have renounced secret and shameful ways.” (2 Corinthians 4:2)

The Apostle Paul declares that he and his fellow imitators of Christ have renounced the methods of the slick, self-interested salesmen. The good news of Jesus is not being peddled by power-hungry, wage-seeking manipulators. There is no desire to control the Corinthians or to distort the message. They have come with purity – honest speech and unadulterated message, a clean lifestyle, a holy morality, and a self-sacrificing ambition. All they want is for their fellow human beings to know the truth and mercy of God.

That’s not only commendable, but it is also the standard for those of us who profess our lives belong to Jesus, right? It is exactly how we are expected to live now that we are in the Kingdom of God. We are to reject the shameful ways of this world: no dishonesty, no immorality, no secret maneuverings, and ulterior motives. Why? Because we are children of the pure, immaculate, and perfect God. And His Spirit makes us like Him.

We need to ask ourselves from time to time, “When was the last time I assessed the purity of my life?” Is our mind filled with gray areas of reality and shades of truth and untruth? Are our relationships pure and honest? Is our conduct transparently open and godly? Just living in this world, we’ve probably been stained by its deceptions. The truth is the salvation that Jesus provides mandates a cleansing. Yes, our humble obedience and Jesus’ power to save will bring us closer and closer into conformity to His character. And His character is as pure as purity gets, agree?

Whatever it takes to renounce secret and shameful ways, let’s do it. Mercy Demands It, and God honors it.

Have a life-changing weekend. Make it better by worshiping The Lord with those who understand the importance of placing their lives on the scale of God’s holiness, and who rest in His mercy, and find peace in His grace.

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)