Turning Misery Into Mercy

Question 1:

Just then a scholar of the Hebrew Scriptures tried to trap Jesus. Scholar: Teacher, what must I do to experience the eternal life?

(Luke 10:25 – Voice)

Answer 1:

Jesus (answering with a question):  What is written in the Hebrew Scriptures? How do you interpret their answer to your question?

Scholar: You shall love the LORD your God with everything you have: all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind – and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus:  Perfect. Your answer is correct. Follow these commands and you will live.

The scholar was frustrated by this response because he was hoping to make himself appear smarter than Jesus.

(Luke 10:26-29 – Voice)

Question 2:

Scholar: Ah, but who is my neighbor?

(Luke 10:29 – Voice)

Answer 2:

Jesus:  This fellow was traveling down from Jerusalem to Jericho when some robbers mugged him.

They took his clothes, beat him to a pulp, and left him naked and bleeding and in critical condition. 

By chance, a priest was going down that same road, and when he saw the wounded man, he crossed over to the other side and passed by.    

 Then a Levite who was on his way to assist in the temple also came and saw the victim lying there, and he too kept his distance. 

Then a despised Samaritan journeyed by. When he saw the fellow, he felt compassion for him.  

The Samaritan went over to him, stopped the bleeding, applied some first aid, and put the poor fellow on his donkey. He brought the man to an inn and cared for him through the night.

The next day, the Samaritan took out some money—two days’ wages to be exact—and paid the innkeeper, saying, “Please take care of this fellow, and if this isn’t enough, I’ll repay you next time I pass through.”  

(Luke 10:30-35 – Voice)

Question 3:

Which of these three proved himself a neighborto the man who had been mugged?

(Luke 10:36 – Voice)

Answer 3:

Scholar:  The one who showed MERCY to him. Jesus: Well then, go and behave like that Samaritan.

(Luke 10:37 – Voice)

MERCY: undeserved forgiveness & unearned kindness

MERCY: “Love In Action” (Rick Warren)

Loving God and loving people are inseparable

If anyone says “I love God,” but keeps on hating his brother, he is a liar; for if he doesn’t love his brother who is right there in front of him, how can he love God whom he has never seen?

(1 John 4:20 –Living Bible)

Religious activity devoid of love is worthless

If I gave everything I have to poor people, and if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel but didn’t love others, it would be of no value whatever.

(1 Corinthians 13:3 – Living Bible)

Brothers and sisters, it doesn’t make any sense to say you have faith and act in a way that denies that faith. Mere talk never gets you very far, and a commitment to Jesus only in words will not save you.

It would be like seeing a brother or sister without any clothes out in the cold and begging for food, and saying, “Peace, friend, you should get inside where it’s warm and eat something,” but doing nothing about his needs—leaving him cold and alone on the street. 

What good would your words alone do? The same is true with faith. Without actions, faith is useless. By itself, it’s as good as dead.

(James 2:14-17 – The Message)

There are hurting people all around us, we just have to see them

I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!

(John 4:35 – The Message)

Mercy Axiom: We will go out of our way to hide or out of our way to help

Mercy treats others exactly like we want to be treated

Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. 

(Matthew 7:12 – The Message)

Complacency is always the enemy ofcompassion

Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves.

If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.

(1 John 3:16-17 – The Message)

Mercy is often inconvenient & costly

Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person. Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time” or “Try me tomorrow” when the money’s right there in your pocket.

(Proverbs 3:27-28 – The Message)

I will not make an offering to the Eternal One, my True God, that has cost me nothing.

(2 Samuel 24:24 – Voice)

November 12-13

Helping Lee Cranford

Mercy Axiom: If you are too busy to help people, you are too busy.

Mercy blesses the giver more than the receiver

If you feed those who are hungry and take care of the needs of those who are troubled . . . The LORD will always lead you.

He will satisfy your needs in dry lands and give strength to your bones. You will be like a garden that has much water, like a spring that never runs dry.

(Isaiah 58:10-11 – New Century Version)

You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.

If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine!

Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

(Matthew 5:14-16 – The Message)

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