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| Think I'd better stick with mercy |
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"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
The Pharisee had at least two big problems. One, he didn’t have a clue what it actually took to be justified before God. And two, he was distracted from the majesty of the Lord by the shortcomings of other men. When the psalmist pointed out that “there is no one who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3), he was basically saying we all deserve nothing from God but eternal separation from him, i.e. hell. Paul reiterated this when he wrote that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). So even if one of us manages to be the best human being that ever lived, without the direct intervention of God he will be the best human being…in hell.
As for me, I will beat my breast daily and plead God’s mercy if I have to, for I would rather be the worst human being in heaven than the best human being hell. If that means I overlook a few of my neighbors’ sins, then so be it. To my knowledge there is only one Judge of men, and he doesn’t need my help judging. However, to share his mercy with fellow sinners, now that is good news! |
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| To add a comment to "Think I'd better stick with mercy" |
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| June 01, 2009 |
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Yes Mike! I am aware that I am a sinner. It is His sheer Grace which has connected me with the creator. Thanks for bringing home this point. I am not concerned about the life of my neighbour, let me be concerned with my own life. |
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| June 01, 2009 |
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| SWEET COMMENT Rag!! Hey man, we're kindred spirits!! (btw, guess you've been mighty busy, haven't seen ya around brother!) |
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| June 01, 2009 |
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Mike I always feel comfortable with you in spirit. Though we are miles apart, I realise there is some natural bonding between you and I. Yes I was indeed busy for some days. I hope to be on mychurch more frequently and make up for the lost time! Cheers! |
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| June 01, 2009 |
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| Cheers brother! I feel that comfort too! |
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| June 01, 2009 |
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| Mercy Me, too! :) |
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| June 01, 2009 |
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Amen! It is not my neighbor's sins that concern me, as much as my own. It is, however, my concern if my neighbor doesn't have the Lord in his life, so I will pray for him and try to be the example that he can see. I may even venture a little further and tell him how great the Lord is, and what he can have if he has the Lord in his heart. But, coming back to me, I too would beat on my breast and beg for mercy. God is Love. |
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| June 01, 2009 |
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| [star!] |
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| June 01, 2009 |
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| Having friends on mychurch is one thing... but recognising them in facebook is another. It gives a deeper bond when we are back in mychurch. |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Jan, I feel that I can tell you've drank deeply of God's love. You clearly have a deep love for the lost, sister. How precious.
GrammyB, mercy to us all! (And yes, Mercy Me, lol) Thanks dear sister!
Rag, I feel this site facilitates greater in-depth fellowship. Conversations seem to go much deeper here. But maybe that's just me? |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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STARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! A Jillion Starssssssssss!!!!!!! My saying is " When I'm perfect, I'll fix you" butttttttttt I do like your's too! As for me, I will beat my breast daily and plead God’s mercy if I have to, for I would rather be the worst human being in heaven than the best human being hell. |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Cindy, I like your saying too! And furthermore, as has been pointed out before by others, mercy is so much more attractive than judging. In fact, the Lord relates to us on the basis of his mercy each and every day, though he'll only judge us once, and that in the indefinite (to us) future. Thanks for brightening our sky w/all those stars, lol. |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Wow. Mercy it is! Great post! |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it? We all deserve Hell, but thank you Jesus for washing away our sins. Oh what a Savior! |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Thank God for Mercy, because I would be in trouble... Thank you Jesus for what you have done for us... though we will never be perfect we will always have your grace... Great post MIke, we're not to look at each others sin... we have trouble taken care of our own... our trust and hope is with Jesus, and building up and edifying one another... If we could all be good we wouldn't need Jesus... But Jesus we need, because in our perfect days, are as dirty rags...
I hope all is well with you Mike I am glad that my computer problem was only a couple days... |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Hi Mike. I must admit, this is one of your better - or the best blog I have read. Its so easy to judge one from another. But when it comes from the heart, the one who admits their a sinner - is the one who repents the most, which may I also add - comes straight from the heart. I pray that I never become a Pharisee like that man did, who distanced himself - and judged what the other people were doing - without taking a closer look at himself as to what he was doing. |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Great post bro! If heaven were by merit, it would never be heaven to me, for if I were in it I should say, “I am sure I am here by mistake; I am sure this is not my place; I have no claim to it.” But if it be of grace and not of works, then we may walk into heaven with boldness. C.H. Spurgeon |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Thank You Jesus that You loved me warts and all
Judge not lest You be judged wise words
As said before there is only one judge, God |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Great post! Wonderful lesson on humbling yourself. |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Thanks Liz! (I've got "warts" too, plenty of em.) Cubbie, praise God we don't get to heaven by merit. Can you imagine how horrible that would be? The ONLY ticket that makes sense is the grace/mercy ticket. Thus a billion or more eternally grateful voices will be singing the praises of One so wonderful and amazing.... Stevie, thanks bro - I think if we're honest, we all go through times where we are like that Pharisee. It's in the old nature, which still rears its head from time to time... Thanks Warren! Marilyn, good point, our best days are still as filthy rags. The great prophet Isaiah said something like that too, didn't he? God bless you sister, and I too am glad your 'puter probs were resolved quickly! |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Thanks Sherlock! :) Gojolly - what a Savior indeed!! The greater the sin, the greater the mercy!! Thanks Carebear, LOVE hearing from you! |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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THANK YOU, MIKE! GREAT REMINDER!!!
Lord, Have Mercy On Me, A Sinner!
LoveLeigh
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Amen Mike...
Lord have mercy on me. FORGIVE ME FOR MY SINS. Guide me Father in your wisdom.
I will beat my breast daily and plead God’s mercy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Great Word. Amen & amen. God bless you & your family. |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Mercy it is! Thanks Mike. |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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| Wow, it just let me publish this to my Favebook page...cool add Joe, Carebear, and the MyChurch team!! |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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I agree bro... I remember a testimony I heard as a new believer which had a profound affect on me if I may be so bold as to share it here: A woman had a vision... she found herself walking with our sweet Jesus in heaven as she did she recognized supernaturally Saints of Old... Paul, Peter, Apollo, Pricillla, Aquilla and the like... as well as the first Adam, Eve, Abraham, David, Rebecca, Solomon, Hannah, Samuel and a few historical and otherwise people she did not expect to see... she was thrilled to be living in such a moment... as their walk together continued... she turned to Jesus and said... "Where are we going?" to which He responded... 'To see our Father." Suddenly she noticed her garments were filthy rags and she stopped and attempted to turn back ... smiling Jesus touched her arm, took off His Robe of Righteousness and placed it upon her shoulders... as He did so she was reminded of the scripture our righteousness is as filthy rags... and thus came into a new level of understanding, it is through HIS righteousness we are saved and transformed with humility and grace. Having received that which was HIS intention in giving her the vision... the vision came to an end... but the truth of it's message endures forever...
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| June 02, 2009 |
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LoveLeigh....isn't that lovely? :) Thanks Mary, we're definitely rowing our boats in the same direction. Thank you so much Panda! Dennis, I wonder what that looks like. I'll try to find you on FB. (Though don't expect much interaction from me there, just not enough time! I agree, sounds like the MyChurch app is awesome!) Bren, that is a startlingly clear illustration of the text. Thanks for sharing that, how relevant!! |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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I haven't been around in awhile Mike.Somethings don't change....You have great (God inspired)insight..Thank you I needed this right now. |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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well spoken my bro.... |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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If I have only learned one thing in this walk, it it this......
If not for the blood of Christ washing me free fom my sins, I have no hope!!
PERIOD!!!! |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Bren, that is a startlingly clear illustration of the text. Thanks for sharing that, how relevant!! Yes... I thought so too! Thanks for the encouragement... I just may post it for others to read from my blog... (as no everyone takes the time to read our friends comments) |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Welcome back Jimmie, glad the Lord provided what you needed, bro. Thanks Shelley, appreciate it sister! Bren, post it, it's a winner! :) Crystal, amen! Jesus' blood IS our hope! |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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| Amen Bro and mercy is a good path to be on. ^-^ |
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| June 02, 2009 |
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Amen, Mike, and timely for me to read. It always seems God knows what I need to hear! |
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| June 03, 2009 |
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Megan, you're a blessing! :) Deb, thanks for confirming that these words are at least partially Spirit. :) |
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| June 03, 2009 |
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| The Lord's message of mercy really deserves an audience! We believe that, don't we? :) |
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| June 04, 2009 |
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4:12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you— who are you to judge your neighbor? |
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| June 04, 2009 |
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2:13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs over judgment. |
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| June 17, 2009 |
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| [star!] |
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| June 17, 2009 |
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Preach it Bro! |
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