|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Sweet Hour Of Prayer"1 (Lyrics) |
Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. (ESV)
When I celebrate communion at the church, one of the main areas on which I focus comes when the celebrant says: "O Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us." It is one of the most meaningful points in the sacrament, because it reminds me of how much the gift of mercy is an essential part of Christ's ministry. At that sacred moment, I know that I am a sinful creature in need of God's grace, so when I hear those beautiful words, I am both ashamed and assured at the same time: I am ashamed because of my past sins; I am assured because of God's great mercy.
But mercy isn't given just to me personally because I am in need of forgiveness; it's also a gift which I am meant to share. After being forgiven, I could fall into the temptation of being merciless to those around me. My self-righteous holiness could make me judgmental of others who are struggling with their own sins, or issues, or problems. Instead of seeing them as folks who need God's mercy and love just as much as I do, I could be morally blinded by my pride into thinking that they deserve what they get, or that I've experienced the same issues and have risen above them, so why can't they do the same?
Jesus taught us many things with words, but He also applied His teaching with deeds. If we think about when He was nailed to the cross, He didn't curse those who were killing Him, but instead, He pleaded with His Father to forgive them — a divine act of mercy that makes the cross not a terrible instrument of death, but an everlasting symbol of forgiveness, grace, and life.
So, next time we're celebrating communion, perhaps we would do well to ponder how much God's mercy comes to us through Christ, and then, to think about how we could show and share that mercy with other people who are struggling, too.
Question: How has God been merciful to me? Did I deserve such a gift? How can I apply mercy to others?
Prayer: O Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. O Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. O Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, grant us Your peace. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Thursday, April 18, 2024 – In East Asia — Pray for more partners who become trainers in our house church planting network in East Asia. We are asking God for around ten of these trainers for each district in our region. May the Lord grant them courage in their next step of faith.
Prayers for Tom: "April 18, 2024: Update on Prayers for Tom posted on Sunday, August 6, 2023: Tom is still undergoing..." 
Wonderful.
Thanks for a very meaningful devotion.
Thanks for the beautiful reminder, John.
Amen! Thanks for the reminder. Blessings.
Bless you for this teaching, I need it.
(BC)
Thank you, John. This spoke to me and gave me new insight into taking communion.
I am grateful, John, for your reminder today of compassion and what mercy REALLY means. Thank you for these great examples.
This is an excellent devotional, John, and is very thought provoking — just as Robin wants our devotionals to be! We do need to be mindful of showing mercy to others, just as God has bestowed mercy on us.
Dear John:
Wonderful and thought-provoking Devotional! Excellent sermon material. You would make a good Anglican!
(Ontario, Canada)
Good morning, John
Thank you for this message today. We are actually having communion at church here this afternoon. We start church at 5 on Sunday.
God bless and have a great week.
John, thank you for beautifully expressing the wonder of God’s mercy to us. Lately I’ve been moved multiple times to pray “Lord, have mercy on us and the whole world “. I thank Him for leading me to accept Jesus as my Savior and for teaching me daily about mercy and helping me show it to others, as clumsy as I am.
Joining you in our common prayers.
Good morning, John,
Many thanks for another of your most meaningful and thoughtful devotionals. Our Lord certainly is ever ready to shower His mercy upon us and for that we need be generous with our thankfulness to Him. Also, we need be very generous showing mercy to others we encounter in our daily lives as there are many situations to deal with. Blessings for the faithful writings you do.
Thank you, John, for these wonder words and reminders.
I hope your area is recovering from Covid and you are able to worship once again in the sanctuary with cautions in place. Here in Newfoundland, we can worship in the sanctuary with limited numbers and distancing and wearing our masks but are still encouraged to worship through zoom etc. at home, if in the 65 plus age bracket. Though over that age I did go last week as I was the worship leader and it’s easier to do it from sanctuary. I worry though if people will return after such a lengthy period of sitting at home.
Blessings.
Good morning, John,
I seem to always need reminders not to be judgmental and this is an excellent one for me. I am grateful for God’s mercy, and I do try to show mercy, but sometimes I realize that I have judged when I should not have.
Thank you for encouraging others to remember the Words of the bible which help us work towards the person that God wants us to be. God knows that I need help and gave me the Holy Spirit to guide me and teach me. As I pray your prayer today, may I be strengthened by God to do better each and every day. May God bless you with mercy and the giving of mercy to others.
Amen and amen. Blessings.