The link to my book - Destroy and Deliver (Autobiography)

Friday 24 June 2016

The gratitude of mercy

(Mark 5:17) “And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.”

Do we have hearts filled with gratitude or are we amongst the number that begs Jesus to depart? On the surface of it this may seem like a rather odd question, when in fact it is always relevant in a believer’s life. Sin cries leave me alone whilst the mercy of God is filled with gratitude which comes from a repentant heart. We have to understand mercy before we will ever be singing songs like this; “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” With the produce of that understanding filling our mouths with praise; not all are called to be Apostles, but all have been summoned to share the Gospel with friends and family; however until it dawns upon us what we have been saved from, the power of sin and escaping our initial verdict, hell with all its torment, we should at least be eager to share the good news with our relatives.

The Bible is filled with quotes which guides our intentions. It is informative and sensible with its instruction. The Lord Jesus made statements like these to help us understand the call of God upon our lives; “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)  Although this is easy to understand, even a child could interpret what is being said; confess Christ to other as the true Messiah or remain silent with consequences attached. However we will only be moved to action when we understand mercy. Unless of course we have another agenda altogether, looking for the goodies of this life instead of the forgiveness of our sins. Some men preach the gospel for personal gain and Paul refers to them as men looking to fill the lust of their own bellies; false prophets exploiting the poor and simple to get rich.   

The ten leapers had a need, they needed healing and Christ obliged and yet only one returned to give Him thanks. He understood mercy; the others had what they had come for, the healing of their bodies. Unless we understand the mercy of God in our lives we will always be driven by our wants over our needs.    

The man possessed with the unclean spirit “Legion” understood the mercy of God having been freed from his entrapment. A man demon possessed but now set free and with a sound mind; although his conversion was undeniable to the witnesses and with God’s mercy on display; the onlookers perceive the power of his conversion. However in spite of the undeniable evidence this was their cry; “And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.” When we strip their reaction down to its core I am left with this conclusion; the state of their hearts left these individuals loving darkness and the fleeting pleasures of sin over the light of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ. They were more worried about their pigs than the privileged presence of God.

Until we understand the mercy of God in some measure we will continue to remain silent before men. The more we understand forgiveness the greater our intent we be to share the gospel. This man wanted to join the Lord Jesus and follow him, but that was not the call God had placed upon his life, however he was given this instruction; "…Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." (Mark 5:19)

Complacency, comforts and the like soften a soldier’s heart. Understanding the mercy of God in our lives will compel us to spread the news abroad or at least motivate us to share the good news with our kin. This will cause conflict within your families circle, so what! Some of those closest to you may even begin to detest your presence whilst others may be turned by the goodness of God. We have been warned about the rift of the true gospel message and what it could do to our relationships. The Lord explains; “"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”” (Matthew 10:34-39)

With that in mind who would ever lay down their lives if they haven’t understood the mercy of God? Test your level of understanding in light of your commitment in proclaiming the name of the Lord to others and it will soon become apparent if we have understood the mercy of God or not. I do understand that at times we are called to hold our peace but that is rather an exception than a rule.

Signing off

Tyrone

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