STRANGE LOVE IS MERCIFUL

Sermon Notes, May 7, 2017

Rev. Garry McGlinchy

           Pastor Garry's second sermon in the series "Strange Love" was titled "Strange Love is Merciful," and was based on Luke 10:25-37, the parable of the Good Samaritan.  Mercy is the ability to empathize with a person--to imagine what they are feeling--combined with the will to help. 

           When we read the gospels, we read story after story that depict the loving mercy of Jesus Christ.  The tender love of Jesus is obvious enough.  Not only do we have stories that describe His mercy (Luke 8:40-50, Luke 15:1-10) but Luke 4: 18-19 shows that the reason we have so many stories of Christ's loving mercy is because that is what He was sent here to do!  Think about who He reached out to: prostitutes, thieves, the blind, the lame, lepers, the rich, the poor, the elderly, and children.  Not only did He reach out to those in need, He also wept for the city of Jerusalem because He had such a soft heart for it.  The crazy thing is that He did all this within the parameters of His incredible packed schedule.  Jesus was willing to pause what He was doing and tend to the needs of those around Him.  He stopped often to give His full attention to hurting people that everyone else had long since decided to overlook.

           That's the true focus for this week: to be willing to hit the "pause button" on our agendas for the sake of those around us.  In the midst of our packed schedules we can show acts of mercy to those around us.  With that said it will do us well to take a page from the life of Christ and learn to recognize needs, reflect on how those feel, and respond with love that will meet them.  Jesus painted a beautiful picture of what it looks like to recognize, reflect and respond with love in Luke 10:25-37 when He tells the parable of the Good Samaritan.

           Recognize  We need to keep a lookout, be observant, always on the lookout for people's needs. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24)  Take the time to pause--take a time-out from your agenda.  Don't blow past hurting people.  So here's this man who was stripped, robbed, beaten and left for dead on the side of the road.  Then two church leaders come by, see the man, and decide to steer clear from the man and continue on their way.  But the Samaritan, who had every right to leave the man for dead, not only observed that the man was in desperate need, he stopped to help!  He hit the "pause button" on his agenda and stopped to help the dying man!

           Reflect  Don't just look. . . feel.  Put yourself in their place.  Imagine how they hurt.  Let yourself feel. (1 Corinthians 9:22)  Jesus couldn't have chosen a better character to play the hero in this story.  After all that Jews had put Samaritans through, it was the Samaritan that Christ chose to be the hero!  This would not only help the Samaritan understand the pains of the man; it would help him to empathize with the man left for dead.  But strange love requires us to do more than feel, or empathize, with those in need.  Strange love requires us to take action!

           Respond  Don't just feel. . . Move.  Figure out what you can do or say to help and encourage the person.  Do something!  The Samaritan not only saw the need of the man, he did everything he could to make sure the man was in a safe and secure place.  Any action motivated by love is better than nothing.  In James 1:22 we read, "Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says."

           As we continue to move forward on our spiritual journey, we are drawn closer and closer to the image of God.  As we grow in our knowledge of God, we begin to take on His attributes as well.  Perhaps our knowledge of God peaks when we become merciful like He is.  By way of contrast, consider the sins that characterize those who reject the knowledge of God.  In Romans 1:28-32, Paul lists a whole series of evils.  In other words, being heartless and ruthless is the exact opposite of the knowledge of God.  You never sink lower than when you become unmerciful.  Jesus calls His people not only to have a deeper knowledge of God, but to live out the strange love of mercy that this world so desperately needs.

           The thing about showing mercy is that it can be a bit awkward at times.  Think about it.  Today when someone approaches, our protective instincts kick in and we put our guard up--even when we are in great need.  Or, when we observe that someone may need some help we are uneasy in approaching them because we may be afraid that they will take advantage of us; once again our guard goes up.  This is when we need to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us!  The questions that we should be asking ourselves are, How can we recognize when those around us desperately need help?  What do we have to do to reflect and feel what the person is going through?  And what will it take for us to respond out of love in doing all that we can to help the person?  Recognize needs, Reflect on meeting the needs, and Respond with love.  This is how strange love shows mercy.