The Work of His Mercy, Part 2: A Testimony

Last week, we discussed the important truth that we are all the work of God’s mercy. Understanding that changes the way we live—especially when times are tough.

“Equipped for Every Good Work”

It’s no exaggeration to call the Bible God’s love letter to us. But we can never receive it in that way unless we really understand that it is God’s action. It is, in fact, part of his mercy that he gives us his Word—so we’re not just sort of making it up as we go along.

I know plenty of people who try to live their lives that way, and it never works. Paul tells us “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16).

And what that means, in the midst of the challenges we face, whether about our personal life, our business, our church or our social life, each of us can go back to the Bible and say, “OK God, what does the Scripture say about this? And how do I find a way to live that out?”

But I can never enter into the Bible as God intends if I don’t begin at the place of humility: “God, I’m hungry for your instruction. Thank you for your forgiveness. Teach me your ways.”

There are plenty of people who don’t go to the Bible that way, and they use it to justify their own opinions. Using the Bible to condemn somebody else is a profound misuse of it. It’s a way – in a very “religious” context – of elevating oneself over somebody else. But as we discussed last week, I’m the one who is in need of God’s mercy. And so are you.

We’re all guilty of that. We would love to have the Bible reinforce what we already believe. But the fact of the matter is that all of us are humbled by the Scriptures and then encouraged by the Scriptures and then taught by the Scriptures. Scripture is not a weapon—except against the enemy, and that’s the devil, not another human being.

So that’s why we go to the Scriptures. If I’m going to persevere, what do I need? I need the mercy of God.  I need the instruction of the Word of God to teach me and to help correct what I don’t know that is right and wrong, so I can find a way to serve this God who loves and cares for me so deeply.

Granted Justice, Finding Faith

And what does God promise to the people who walk in that sense of mercy, under the authority of what the Scripture says and teaches? I love these lines from the Gospel of Luke: “And will not God grant justice to His chosen ones who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? [The rhetorical answer is no.]  I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them” (Luke 18:6-8a).

Why? Because life’s hard. Sometimes it feels like life is just like this unjust judge. And what Jesus does in that story is contrast the unjust judge on one hand and the beautiful mercy of God on the other. In other words, Jesus says, “God’s not at all like that unjust judge.” No. Just the opposite, in fact.

But then there’s this poignant line: “And yet,” he says, “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8b). Jesus knows that if we use the Bible as a weapon, if we walk away rather than being real instruments that God uses to express his love, care and servanthood, that’s faithlessness.

And when life gets hard, those are the temptations. When I don’t get what I want, when life gets painful and difficult, what do I want to do? I want to blame other people. I want to get mad at God and think He is just like that unjust judge. I want to give up. Or, I want to do worse, to do everything I can to get what I want, to get my way even if it mars the reputation of others.

All of those are temptations we all experience. And that’s why the poignancy of the question: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

You see, God is looking for a group of men and women who are willing to walk with that kind of tender heart toward his mercy; who understand that we are always in need of his forgiveness; who are willing, even in the face of adversity, to be generous, and to be kind and to protect the person who might be the object of gossip.

That’s what it means to walk in the steps of Christ. Because that’s who He is. Beloved, if it doesn’t look like Jesus, it’s just not Christian. Period. End of story.

And so that’s why we come back to the beginning and say, “Oh Lord, if I’m going to walk in this way, I need your forgiveness. I need your mercies.” And the promise is, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end” (Lam. 3:22-23).

May our lives be a testimony, not to arrogance, but to mercy. Because that’s who we are. We are the work of God’s mercy. And for that, I am deeply grateful.

How has your church experience included mercy—or judgment? Share this blog and your response on Twitter. Please include my username, @revgregbrewer.

(This post is an adaption of Bishop Brewer’s sermon on October 16, 2016, at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Inverness, Florida.)

Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.