I want to be
clear on something as we study today. Without Jesus Christ
in your heart, trying to implement the following learning becomes self-help... like
a bunch of good ideas. You need Jesus first. Do you know what that means? Click “what is salvation?” tab to the right.
Once Jesus has
his rightful place as the one in charge of your life, everything
else we learn in the Bible becomes more than good ideas. They become what
they are, which is the WORD OF GOD.
Talk to God.
Read James 2:13
Read James 2:13
“For judgment is without
mercy to one who has shown no mercy,” is central to God’s law.
Each
one of us will stand before God one day and have our life displayed
before us. When James 2:13 talks
about mercy triumphing, or winning, over judgment… he is not talking about God’s
mercy being extended to us as believers.
He is saying that the mercy we have shown to the poor and the hurting
and the weak, is what will vindicate us at the Day of Judgment. Please continue reading to get a better
understanding!!!
Vinidicate-
to clear someone of blame or suspicion.
Read Matthew
25:31-40.
What 6 things did Jesus say we should do for the poor, the
hurting, and the weak, and it would be as if we were doing it for Him?
These things are NOT things we just do on mission trips. These are NOT things we do just when
people are watching. These are NOT things we just do because of civic duty. This is are everyday things… a
way of life.
Hungry= someone who is physically hungry for food or for the
Good News of Jesus Christ.
Thirsty= someone who is physically in need of a drink or in
need of the Living Water that only Jesus Christ can give.
Stranger= someone in need of friendship; someone who needs us
to do the hard work of keeping up with them and involving them in our lives.
Naked= someone who is physically in need of clothes; also
can be someone who has been humiliated and is in need of friendship for
protection and healing.
Sick= someone who is physically ill. Can even be someone who is sick in the mind
like a mental disability or sick in the body like a physical disability.
Prisoner= someone who is in actual jail. Can also be someone who is trapped in the
prison of the mind… depression or mental disability.
We must constantly be aware
of our natural tendency to be self-focused!!
Naturally, we will entertain ourselves, when we could be
studying God’s Word so we can be aware of where we can show acts of mercy.
Naturally, we will demand to get what we want for ourselves,
often complaining about what we have or lack of what we have in the process,
before we even think about helping those in need.
Naturally, we will sacrifice to the idol of friends before we go to a stranger or someone in prison to share God’s love through
time spent with them.
Naturally, we will become lazy and self-focused when we think about
doing the hard leg work involved in making a new friend or involving them
regularly in your life.
Naturally, we will become self-absorbed when we think about
what people will say when we reach out and invest in someone who is different in
the world’s eyes.
Naturally, we will want to toss those who are sick and in
prison out like trash and pretend that if we just don’t see them, we will not
have to feel the need to show love and mercy to them.
TARGET for the
DAY
Please write the following
down in your journal…
When we see someone…
1.
Hungry
2.
Thirsty
3.
A stranger
4.
Naked
5.
Sick
6.
Prison
… we are to...
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