Show mercy ??

Greetings frens

This is a challenge for myself and I wish to share with you my life long pursuit. I hope it will help us live life differently.

Often it is so difficult to "love" someone and continue to keep the fellowship especially those who had hurt us or continue to hurt us. It is easier to stay clear of the person concern than to work out the relationship whatever the link maybe. Some would even change jobs, change spouse, move elsewhere and so on. The least contact we have, the least despair and agony we would experience.

My God says; "When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won’t give up in despair". 2 Corinthians 2:7 (CEV).

According to *Rick Warren, in real fellowship people experience mercy. Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren’t rubbed in but rubbed out.

Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice. We all need mercy, because we all stumble and fall and require help getting back on track. We need to offer mercy to each other and be willing to receive it from each other.

You can’t have fellowship without forgiveness because bitterness and resentment always destroy fellowship. Sometimes we hurt each other intentionally and sometimes unintentionally, but either way, it takes massive amounts of mercy and grace to create and maintain fellowship.

The Bible says, “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (Colossians 3:13 NLT).

The mercy God shows to us is the motivation for us to show mercy to others. Whenever you’re hurt by someone, you have a choice to make: Will I use my energy and emotions for retaliation or for resolution? You can’t do both.

Many people are reluctant to show mercy because they don’t understand the difference between trust and forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past. Trust has to do with future behavior.

Forgiveness must be immediate, whether or not a person asks for it. Trust must be rebuilt over time. Trust requires a track record.

If someone hurts you repeatedly, you are commanded by God to forgive them instantly, but you are not expected to trust them immediately, and you are not expected to continue allowing them to hurt you. They must prove they have changed over time.

The best place to restore trust is within the supportive context of a small group that offers both encouragement and accountability. End of quote.

As for me, each time when I reflect on my encounters, I discovered how far I was from God's standard. Whenever I complain silently or aloud about someone being unpleasant, difficult or different and most times they did not even sin! I discovered that I was sometimes much worst than them and lacked mercy and grace as well.

It helped a lot when I consciously decide that I must choose to be more like Christ, otherwise I am just like the person whom I have just judged and I thank God that I have a standard to benchmark against. I know that there is no condemnation in Christ and God is not done with me or the other person yet. He is the author and finisher of our faith. We are beautiful in His sight and He will never leave us nor forsake us. He will continue to draw us closer to Him and transform us as long as it takes. How wonderful to know of His everlasting love.

Some days are good but each day I am getting better. The least that I can do being where I am now, is to expose my child to a real model made of flesh and blood. She sees it all and makes comments that really surprised me but it encouraged me more. She made this comment; "Mom, you know during the last two months I have never seen you to be so tolerant and patient before. You have really changed!" :D

Join us in our fellowship with other DSWAN's.

*Rick Warren is the is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life