As I read this today, several verses seemed to jump out and connect themselves. I'll see if I can explain how it all went down. First, I saw the words, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." Mercy is a challenging word. Jesus could have replaced the word sacrifice with other words, such as judgment or perfection ( thing I often practice or desire). He desires mercy, am I merciful?
As I was considering that, this got me: "every city or household divided against itself will not stand." I began to realize that while I try to be merciful, those I am typically least merciful toward are members of my own family, or members of the church. I am all to quick to point out faults in those I expect the most from. That scares me a little, because I have seen what happens to families where expectations are too high, and to churches where a lack of mercy leads to division.
And then..."people will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken." I began to look at the deep divisions between people, families, denominations, countries, and I wondered if words of mercy could heal wounds and divisions. I even thought of our government and wondered, at the current rate, how long it will stand. But mainly I began to think about my own words; those spoken out of pride, arrogance, judgment or anger. I began to be convicted about things spoken that have hurt and divided; words that lacked mercy.
And then I read as Jesus looked at the people with him and said, "Here are my mother and brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." And I wondered why those I hurt the most are my family members. I think I feel like I can stand firm on things with my family (physical and spiritual family); I feel like since I am right, I can work them over and get them to see things my way, like they would never leave me, so I can be tough and make them do things the way I want them done, how I want them done, at the time I want them done. That is the very definition of a bully. That is not mercy.
I realize this is not the best way to do bible study; taking a verse here and a verse there and stringing them together into something they were maybe never meant to be, but that is what haoppened when I read today. Needless to say, it was a challenge for me to face.
I think what I got out of this chapter today is that Jesus seems to always be trying to get us to think outside the box. It's like he's saying, "Yes...the law does say that, and yes, that is correct, but you still need to temper it all with mercy." It makes me think of that scripture where it says, "He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit produces life." (2 Cor. 3:6) I'm certainly not suggesting that Jesus is saying that we can go outside his commands for the sake of mercy...only that, unless we understand how his mercy TIES INTO his commands, are we really getting what he's saying. I guess the challenge to me is, I want to "get" what he's really saying.
ReplyDeleteRob, I don't think stringing together focusing on different verses that speak to you is a bad way to do Bible Study at all. Its so easy to read the Bible and not really think about how the words apply to our lives personally. I've been enjoying this Bible Study because its been challenging me to focus on the words that are really speaking to me.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." ....I picked on the difference who these actions affect. Sacrifice is something that typically involves just myself..giving up my time, my money, my food (fasting) but mercy is something that is given to other people. But God does not want us to think about ourselves, but rather we should be focusing on what we can do for others.Self sacrifice alone is not want God wants, but extending mercy to others shows that we are ministering to the letter of the covenant of the Spirit (Susie...thanks for that cross reference...it makes things much clearer!)