Mercy

• by: Heather Barrett 07/01/08

Proverbs 14:21 “He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.”

I could not be more excited about the Mercy Ministry! Through the Divine Design results and desires in our church, people are coming forward and sharing a passion for helping others .As we learned a few weeks ago, God’s mercy should dominate our lives. We are all sinners, saved not by our own works, but by God’s amazing mercy (Titus 3:5). While still dead in our sins, the Lord not only withheld our punishment, He sent His only Son to take our place! Jesus died the death we should have, and because of God’s mercy, we can live the rest of our lives with our Father. Knowing this, how can we not share God’s mercy with others?

Deuteronomy 15:7,8, 11 “If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving to you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.... Therefore I (God) command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.”

Whether or not we recognize it on a daily basis in Mill Creek, many people around us have needs. Their struggles may be a result of something they chose to do, something done to them, or a combination of both. No matter what the cause, they need God’s love and mercy. God would never look at us and say, “Sorry, it’s too late. I just can’t help you.” To show God’s love to those around us, we must set aside our preconceived ideas regarding their situations. We need to reach out to them, knowing they may refuse our help. When we do finally break through and make a connection with someone in need, the smallest action can make a world of difference. For the first time, they may realize they have dignity, they are worth something, and most importantly, they are loved!

Matthew 22:34-40 “Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question; 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?' Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself.”
 
As we have all heard many times, we are a young church. We are learning, and we are messy. As we begin to grow the Mercy Ministry, there will be struggles. Obviously, when God moves and people respond, the enemy feels threatened. Regardless of these struggles, we must push forward. Loving the lost is so close to God’s heart! It would be easy for each of us to focus on our own needs, but God calls us to so much more.

Proverbs 31:8-9 says “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

We must fight for those who cannot fight for themselves! Yes, we are a young church, and yes we are still learning the ropes, but who are we to assume God can’t use us just as we are to make an impact in our local community? The Woodside Elementary Food Drive was a perfect example. Praise God that through our efforts, and the donations of the local community, we filled Woodside’s Food Pantry. The outcomes of that service opportunity were astounding, and we can now rest assured that families in need have a resource for meals during the summer months.

I pray for more opportunities of service to arise in our church, where we can work together and bless those around us, not for our own glory, but for the glory of our Lord. There are a lot of hurting people in our community who need to know the Lord and His love. What might seem like a small act of kindness on a Saturday afternoon could be part of God’s plan to lead a person to the foot of the cross. If we come before God with open hearts and a willingness to serve, who knows what He can do!

If you have service ideas to share, or are interested in helping with the Mercy Ministry, please email .