Are you an in-law?

SCRIPTURE
“If you had known what these words mean, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matt 12:7-8)

OBSERVATION
This part of chapter 12 highlights the difference between living in the law and living in love. It is actually easier to live in the law because there is a clear winner and loser – you are either in or out based on what you do. Being raised Catholic, I could tell you exactly what my religion expected of me, and I did it (at least when I was at church). It was all about religion, and that religion included building my own stairway to heaven by my good works. Hey, I worked hard for it – I earned it! That’s what I thought, anyway.

APPLICATION
Giving mercy can be harder for our works-based flesh to deal with. We want to be judgmental, especially of other Christians and other churches whose traditions or methods don’t match up with ours. Giving mercy means allowing others to have their freedom in Christ and trusting the Holy Spirit to do His job, convicting, shaping and changing us. Our personal convictions from Him should not necessarily be turned into application for every Christian – we are each different and the Holy Spirit deals with each of us differently.

PRAYER
Oh, Lord, help me to remember to choose mercy over the law – help me to remember You came to call sinners, not the righteous. Help me to love those that religion would condemn. Help me live as the prophet Micah says, “to do justice, to LOVE MERCY, and to WALK HUMBLY with my God”.

Carole Leitgeb
Worship Department
Alto/Section Leader