Matthew 9:13 ESV “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
This is such an essential verse in the Bible for My children to know and understand. First and foremost, know that I am making a point of how important mercy is. It does not mean that I do not actually want sacrifice. Clearly the life of a Christian involves sacrifice, this is all throughout the Bible but I am making a point here of how important mercy is.
Can you find a way to stand strong on the laws and precepts that I have set out and yet walk with mercy and love above all else. Not letting go of truth and what is right but also recognizing that it is impossible for someone without My Spirit living within them to understand the truth?
Truth and wisdom are beautiful things but not when they are used to beat people up.
It is with the combination of truth and love, wisdom and mercy, laws and precepts and grace that you find the truth of the Kingdom.
From Jesus:
I came to call the sinners not to exclude them from the Kingdom. I came to call the sinners and not to shame them into believing in Me. I came to call the sinners home. I called you home when you were a sinner and I would like you to do the same for others.
Can you find a way to fiercely defend My Kingdom and My laws and precepts but not because they are laws and precepts that must be obeyed but, instead, that they are laws and precepts that are given as guidance for the very best life possible. There is deep sadness when someone breaks one of My laws and chooses a life that is outside the way I created the world to be. There is deep sadness and heartache that goes along with these choices in life. Shaming someone in this circumstance does not bring them closer to heaven, it pushes them away.
I desire mercy and not sacrifice. I desire you to lay down your own life and your own desire for the world to follow my laws to the letter and know that I am the one who is saddened by their behavior more than anything else. Yes, there are times to require someone to leave the church. Paul detailed this because he wanted the wolves in the church to be removed so the lambs could survive. But there are many lambs that are being asked to leave because of what was done to them, not because of what they have done.
Recognize the power of obedience and the power of following My laws and precepts.
Recognize the power of fearing Me over all else.
Do not let go of these.
And walk in a way that shows mercy and kindness to the very people who are hurting deeply because they do not know Me and do not have My Spirit living within them. It is a fine line to walk and you can only do it effectively with Me leading.
Let Me show you the mercy I have shown you so that you can show it to others.
I believe this is a message to us from God, written from His perspective – Sherri
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