Mercy In, Mercy Out Part 2
June 30|When God Doesn't Make Sense Series
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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in.”
Read the entire passage: Luke 15.11-32
TODAY’S MESSAGE
When Jonah saw God’s mercy towards Ninevah, he became angry. When the brother of the prodigal son saw his father’s mercy, he became angry. Jonah wasn’t happy. The older brother wasn’t happy. Neither one wanted to show mercy to people who’d hurt them.
It’s possible we don’t either. If the hurt is big enough, and the pain great enough, we’re not willing to forgive and extend mercy. But because God forgives us through Christ, we’re to do the same when we’re hurt by others.
Lewis Smedes, in his book The Art of Forgiving, tells us we know we’ve truly forgiven someone when “we rediscover the humanity of the person who wronged us, we surrender our right to get even, and we wish that person well.” One way to test that is to affirmatively answer these three statements in regard to the person who hurt us.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Pray for the power of God’s Spirit to demonstrate “mercy in, mercy out”. Trust that God will give you exactly what you need.
