No body, when they first become followers of Christ, is instantly saintly. We all must learn of Him and the way He wants us to live; not so He can lord it over us, though He is our Lord, but, so we may enjoy Him and the many gifts He holds for us. One of those gifts is good, healthy relationships with each other. If we love God as our Father and Jesus as Our Elder Brother, then we must also love the rest of the Holy Family of believers. That's what God wants for us and works in us. But, if we remain contentious and hateful with each other, we put God and Christ in a bad light.

Jesus asked His disciples to become yoked to Him and to learn of Him. Look closely at those with whom He spent most of His time. Are you better than they? Think again! It is the people who think they are better than everyone else, who afflict, oppress, abuse and misuse. Christ came to heal the brokenhearted, give good news to the poor, pardon to the prisoners, give sight to the blind; set the burdened and battered free (Luke 4:18ff). As we "learn of Him," we grow to be like Him and we find rest for our souls in a dark and troubling world. But, just like Jesus held nothing back in order to bless us with salvation and reconciliation, He does expect those of us who say we love Him and will follow Him to become ministers like Him. Are you an attentive student in the school of Christ Jesus or are you truant? Think about it.

“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?” This is a question the disciple Peter asks of Jesus. Jesus exhorts Peter to be in a continual process of forgiveness with the answer, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” He goes on to illustrate his point with a parable about a servant who humbles himself to the Master and asks for mercy. Then, having received mercy, that servant arrogantly demands payment from a fellow servant who is indebted to him. The parable ends with the unmerciful servant in prison. That is truly what happens to the arrogant. Not only does arrogance think he is superior, he elevates himself to the position of judge and executioner of those who are perceived to have sinned against him. While Jesus walked among men, He repeatedly warned them not to judge or condemn, but to forgive. Arrogance believes he should always receive mercy but is in no way obligated to give it. Arrogance is quick to demand justice, if it serves his selfish purposes. The slightest misstep or fault of another inflames his self-righteous indignation and looses vehement criticism upon the errant. Arrogance holds Love up to ridicule for being merciful, crucifies Love’s character, and foolishly asserts that he will have no part of it! But Love is merciful, even up to seventy times seven and beyond. Love does not deny that a debt exists but graciously forgives it. Love is willing to take the loss so that another might gain. Love recognizes that mankind is shortsighted and naturally tends toward sin. Love also understands that man, himself, cannot keep himself from behaving sinfully. So, Love steps in and generously, graciously, assumes the indebtedness that occurs. Love wisely knows that a “free” man is more likely to be fruitful than one who is in prison. Love’s only desire is that those He forgives would do likewise. Think about it.

Hope conceived is expectation. Hope as a child is confidence. Hope as a young adult is trust. Hope when fully mature is comfort. Think about it.

If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111), then following His ways is the consummation of wisdom. A good understanding of the works of the Lord cultivates the good fruit of godly wisdom. Also, in Psalm 111, “the works of the Lord” are said to be “studied by all who delight in them.” The works of the Lord are great, wonderful, powerful, eternal, holy and awesome, splendid and majestic, performed in truth and uprightness. It is in studying, remembering and knowing them (by application) that the fruit of true godly wisdom matures and brings praises to God Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Think about it.

The knowledge of good and evil is not the same as righteousness. One may know all about good and evil and still not be righteous in thought, word or deed. The truly righteous one lives by faith in the One True God; knowledge can lead to wickedness. Only the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Saint James said, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
What is so attractive about God’s righteous ones? They have a quality of peace about them; the perfume of life rises from them; the mercy of God flavors all they say and do. With gentle strength their hands do good and their steadfast faith brings hope to the afflicted. Their reasonability and honesty is a harbor for the world-wearied soul. Behind all they do is the pure motive of love for God and for their neighbor. All they do and say brings life and points to the Tree of Life, the Giver of Life. Think about it.

Gentleness springs from knowing God, knowing we are children of God and knowing each human’s condition. Gentleness is Compassion handling the wounded, the afflicted and the poor with mercy. Jesus calls to the “weary and heavy-laden” to come to Him for He is “gentle and humble in heart.” With this Gentle Master mankind will “find rest” for their souls. Sin is a harsh taskmaster, driving those who serve him without rest, without pity until death, and then, into hell. Gentleness is like velvet over steel for it is, not only compassionate, it exercises its God-given authority and strength to bring succor to the suffering inhabitants of earth. Gentleness, along with its authority and strength, employs wisdom, discernment and knowledge in helping the “less fortunate.” Look into history, look about you, today; you will see the evidence of Christians’ fruitfulness in gentleness. It is the Christian, fruitful in gentleness, who helps bear the worldly burden of trouble and serves the goodness of the Lord to suffering humanity. Think about it.

Kindness is putting someone in the place of privilege. Privilege is “a right or immunity granted as an advantage or favor,” says Merriam-Webster. The “golden rule” was birthed out of the kindness of the Lord: “Do unto others as ye would have them do unto you.” Our Heavenly Father’s lovingkindness has been the song of Israel throughout her history. In His kindness we find mercy; in His mercy we find hope and a future. It is God’s kindness that draws us to repentance, grants us forgiveness and empowers us to love and do good. It is the fruit of kindness in the Christian’s life that stirs up the hunger for God in the heart of man. It is kindness that turns away wrath and disarms malice. Kindness shows respect to the unrepentant and undeserving. The warmth of kindness beckons the cold-hearted traveler to enter the King’s house and sup with Him. Think about it.

The world demands that if one has “real faith,” he must give it its “pound of flesh.” It’s not enough that one says he believes, he must prove it and the world reserves the right to tell him how. One must prove it before the evaluating gaze of human judges, who are more than ready to yank the declared devotee off life’s stage while pelting him with rotten ridicule and corrupt criticism, if they don’t like his performance. The world crucifies the one who does good without exacting payment, speaks truth with love, consistently honors God for who He is and what He does, treats all people as equally valuable and worthy of love and mercy, and, is willing to lay down his life even for those who reject him. But the one the world hates, despises and crucifies, God loves. Think about it.

How do we, who were afar off but now have been drawn near, glorify God for His mercy? We “bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just to please ourselves.” We persevere in “being of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus.” We “accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” We use our Christian standards to help one another not to shackle each other. Think about it.

From what source does a true act of mercy spring? A heart radiating the light of God’s love and kindness or one that is reluctantly compelled out of fear of man’s disapproval? True mercy “shines out” of a life that has realized the ministration of God’s mercy with joy, and, is delightfully ready and prompt to give it out to another. Think about it.

One may be able to discern the times or analyze and categorize human nature, but we can only know what God has chosen to reveal to us about Himself and His thoughts and ways. If you study His Word (what He has revealed to man) and know His presence through worship and prayer, you will make a discovery: How vain it is to try and tell Him what to do or bribe Him for favor or mercy. Can the branch say to the vine, “I have no further use for you?” Can the clay say to the potter, “Why did you make me like this?” God is the source of all things, the Sustainer of all things and the end to which all things will arrive; and, it is by His mercy that any of us realize this. Think about it.

This is a hard revelation to accept, that God would harden some people in order to “make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy . . . even us.” We question, “Didn’t He say elsewhere in Scripture that He desired ‘that none should perish?’” I tell you His desire has not changed. Go, read and consider the story of Pharaoh and Moses or consider the account of Judas Iscariot. They were given ample opportunity to bow to the will of God, but they would not, and so, He hardened their hearts as far as they wanted them to go. Yes, their end was destruction, but the end for God and His Christ was the salvation of many, the knowledge of His riches given to Jew and Gentile alike, and, the revelation that His power overcomes the world. “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me” (excerpt from Hebrews 3: 12-19). Selah.

How easy to give out of our substance compared to tithing good character. We often put more store in the pride over the labor of our hands than in the humility it takes to transform our hearts. God prefers compassion over sacrifice; justice over attainment; and, faithfulness over religious traditions. Think about it.

How often have we done some foolish thing out of our short-sightedness or “blind” selfishness, and found ourselves “by the road” instead of on the right track? In the misery that accompanies such a mistake, how often have we “cried out” for the Lord’s mercy? For me, every time! How often has the Lord, “moved with compassion,” touched us that we might “regain” perspective and hope? And, how often have we gratefully and devotedly “followed Him?” Think about it.

When pride and selfishness are condoned, agitation and fear sound a discordant CLANG that sets our hearts on edge and stirs resentment towards, and detachment from, God and others. This is a dangerous and destructive attitude. So, our heavenly Father, in His love and mercy, disciplines us that we may know what brings life and well-being and what does not.
When we do what is “right,” our whole being (body, mind and spirit) come into harmony and peace settles in. Our relationships move toward healthier commitment and intimacy. Quietness and confidence return and we feel more secure through having pleased God. Think about it.

How often do we trust in the ability of man to remedy our frailties when rightly placed faith can move mountains? The tiniest faith when placed in God is the catalyst for transformation. Think about it.

The Lord tests our faith in various ways. He tested the Canaanite woman’s faith by stating a prejudicial statement of the time. It was an accepted practice of the Jews to shun such people as Canaanites and other “Gentiles.” The woman could have turned away at the rebuke but she did not. She believed in spite of traditional social restrictions and found that God truly seeks and rewards those of faith, not just a particular type of person. “Great faith” is faith that is held onto when the tide of worldly unbelief and evil comes against you. God’s mercy is given to “whosoever believes.” Selah.

What does Matthew, the hated and shunned tax-collector, Luke, the analytical Gentile doctor and Paul, the zealous Pharisee, have in common? They each experienced the life-changing mercy of the Lord and became His fervent disciples. The Lord’s mercy is spoken of more in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, and, in Paul’s letter to the Romans than anywhere else in the New Testament. Matthew received the embracing and accepting mercy of Christ. Luke had his deepest questions and longings answered by the mercy of God in Christ. Paul was mercifully confronted by the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ, and his zeal was changed from works to faith. “It’s Your kindness (mercy) that leads us to repentance (change), O Lord.” Think about it.

What do you believe the Lord Jesus Christ is able to do? Take time to think about it.

When someone slights you, betrays a confidence, or injures your sense of well-being through a thoughtless word or act, do you pity him/her or condemn him/her? Are you critical of the lack of “Christian love” in some people or do you recognize his/her neediness because, you, too, have been there? What is your attitude toward those in distress, who seem to continually look for ways, other than trusting God, to try and meet their needs? Our God and heavenly Father knows we are needy and He, who is rich in mercy, has shown and given us mercy through His Son Jesus Christ. And, Our Lord directs and enables us, His children, by His Holy Spirit, to give mercy to one another. Selah.