It occurs to me that while we would much prefer to consider ourselves to be like Jesus, the nagging truth is that we are often much more like the Pharisees. We judge ourselves and others with a criticalness that suggests that we and not God are on the judgment seat. Our thoughts and communication focus on what we should do to get things right in the first place (self-righteousness), or what we can do to make amends if we have failed (sacrifice). When we do this, focus our attention on human efforts, we become just another link in the chain that shackles people to their burden of sin from which they have already lost hope of escape.

We don’t consider what God is doing in our life or the lives of others who, like ourselves, are struggling to understand the goodness and grace of God. Jesus continually pointed people to lift their gaze to heaven to see that God purposes to save and not to condemn. We are all fallen creatures who cannot change our nature to do or be good apart from God’s grace.

So if we wanted to truly be more like Jesus how would we approach one another? I am convinced (and convicted) that we would be ministers of grace who teach people to “lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help. My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Otherwise we are nothing more than dispensers of judgment and unwanted advice which helps no one.

Therefore Jesus says to you and to me, “Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy….” God’s heart is mercy toward us. Our sin brings its own condemnation which certainly requires a sacrifice of atonement. In God’s mercy He has provided the sacrifice in Christ Jesus. Our focus then should be to understand, practice and minister God’s heart of mercy pointing ever to the cross which alone can break the chains of bondage. Go, and learn what this means in your life. And then show it to others.

- Pastor Randy