POST #28: JESUS' SERMON ON THE MOUNT: Extending Mercy!

There are many wonderful ways that we can be like JESUS.  I suppose none is any more attractive than being known as someone who extends mercy.  It is a type of kindness that is rare.  

In this day of fast food, 24 hour service, and instant messaging, impatience runs deep. Cutting people  some slack does not come naturally.  Giving people mercy and grace because their culture does not match yours is not the norm.  In fact, making quick judgments about people and "running over" people tend to be the norm. 

I look in the gospels and see how often people cried out for "mercy" to JESUS.  HE was ready and willing to extend it; and HE did!  Here are a few examples:

• Matthew 9:27  "JESUS went on from there, two blind men followed HIM, crying out, “Have mercy on us, SON OF DAVID!"

• Matthew 15:22  "And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, LORD, SON OF DAVID; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.”

• Mark 10:46-47  "Then they *came to Jericho. And as HE was leaving Jericho with HIS disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was JESUS THE NAZARENE, he began to cry out and say, “JESUS, SON OF DAVID, have mercy on me!”

• Luke 17:12-13   "As HE entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met HIM; and they raised their voices, saying, “JESUS, MASTER, have mercy on us!”

JESUS, no matter how busy YOU were...  no matter, how inconvenient it was... YOU modeled for us by stopping what YOU were doing and taking care of a person's need(s) by extending mercy.  Thank YOU, JESUS!  I am forever grateful!

BLESSED!  OH, THE JOY!
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