Minutes of Mercy

Envy divides. Love celebrates. We must look to the most perfect example of love, the Lord Jesus Christ, for our example in this. He who is worthy of everything “made Himself of no reputation.” Let’s not make the mistake of envying what God is doing in someone else’s life because we’ve made ourselves of some sort of reputation, thinking we’re more deserving. Am I doing more competing or loving?

Kind love is active. It does not wait, pick and choose, or seek convenience. This type of love seeks out opportunities to do good on behalf of somebody else. This love is perfectly shown to us by Christ. Kindness is not weakness, it is Christlikeness! Let’s actively look for opportunities to serve, encourage and lift others up! May our love be Kind!

Jesus is the perfect example of what this type of love looks like. He exemplified it in His time on earth, He shows it to us today, and we have a call to reflect the same type of love type of love to others in our lives. If Jesus was as patient with me as I am with others, what would that look like?

This episode sets the stage for our next few week series, “Love, The More Excellent Way” No matter how gifted, spiritual, or even sacrificial we may be, without love it is worth nothing.

For 38 years he had laid by the pool. Wishing for the day he could be the first to the water so he could be healed. One encounter with Christ changed it all! The length of your struggle does not lessen the attention of the Saviour!

Labeled and rejected by his own people, Jesus saw him not for where he was or who he was, but what he could do for God’s glory. How tragic it would be to miss the call of Christ because we allow the voices of others to be louder.

The crowd of this world will make us feel like we’re not important enough. I’m thankful that Jesus does not measure our worthiness or our usefulness by “status” The same ones the crowd pushes to the side, Jesus invites close!

The account of the Widow of Nain shows us that even when our deepest grief blinds us from noticing Christ’s presence, that doesn’t stop Him from looking for us! In the midst of our hopeless situations, Christ sees us, moves toward us with compassion, and speaks life!

In Matthew 14 while others chose the safety of the boat, Peter stepped out in faith and experienced the miraculous. The crowd will always remember us for our faltering but this account shows us a great truth. That even faith that falters gets caught and restored!

She’s tossed into the middle of a crowd, looked at as nothing but a case and an issue. By the end, their words fall silent and stones fall from their hands when Jesus exposes them for who they are. There stands only Jesus and her. Christ displays mercy, grace, and sends her out with a story to tell!