Welcome to Hank’s Place –
Lovingkindness. Mercy. Grace. It’s who God is – He used it to describe Himself in Ex 34:6.
Some folks think God goes around breaking legs, causing illness or cancer – or even death to teach people a lesson. My friend, He already taught us the best lesson ever: His beloved Son going to Calvary to suffer and die in our place. Now THAT’s a lesson to learn!
Lovingkindness: when the person who owes you nothing – chooses to give you – everything. And this God has done – by His choice; including giving us Himself in coming to live in us as Col 1:27 reveals!
To those hard hearted Pharisees, Jesus quoted from Hosea 6:6 twice, found in Mat 9 and 12. “I desire mercy, lovingkindness, rather than sacrifice.” God prefers we love people, and not be preoccupied with religious observations.
There were 2 main groups of Pharisees in Jesus’ day. One group followed Hillel. Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, Gamaliel, were all likely in this group. They were inclusive Pharisees; that is, they sought to proselytize by including people, bringing them in.
The second group were followers of Shammai and were an exclusive group, keeping people out even to the point of violence. Shammai taught that when God created gentiles that He made a mistake.
Rather judgmental, wouldn’t you say? Likely it was followers of Shammai who followed Jesus around to catch Him violating their rules. At Matthew’s party they do not appear too aggressive. But in the ambush in the grain fields it was very different. And very apparent how hard hearted they were, declaring Jesus’ disciples guilty of a crime they did not commit.
And remember that Roman Centurion of Luke 7 – who despite being told he was worthy by the Jewish elders, nevertheless told Jesus he was NOT worthy, and then went ahead to ask Jesus for a miracle anyhow – he knew God IS lovingkindness my friend.
Today I urge you, be as the Centurion, to ask Jesus for impossible things for others or yourself – without regard to your own behavior. Without regard to merit. But with all regard to the God of lovingkindness.
Miracles, healings, amazing things will happen and many will COME ALIVE!
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The fishing boat skippers on Cape Cod, MA, are so skilled they sometimes back out of Sesuit Harbor, just to keep it interesting!
Truly they are in a class by themselves!