“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” – Luke 6:36

If you’ve experienced God’s mercy through faith in Jesus Christ, then you MUST be merciful. It isn’t an option. It isn’t a nice-to-have feature in your future character development. It isn’t something to get around to when it’s convenient. And it certainly isn’t something to only practice when it’s easy. True followers of Jesus are merciful toward enemies. Toward those who curse them, mock them, and hurt them. Toward those who slap them, extort them, and seek to take advantage of them. Toward those who are different, scary, and shouldn’t even be near them.

Jesus was very, very clear. Sinners know how to love their friends. Sinners know how to help people who will help them in return. Sinners know how to lend money to people who are a good credit risk. Those who’ve been touched by God’s grace and mercy must demonstrate it by living lives filled with grace and mercy toward people they otherwise wouldn’t care about. And Jesus is very, very clear about what the standard is – your mercy is to be like God’s!

Does your mercy toward others match up to God’s? Does your mercy toward those you dislike match up to God’s? Does your mercy toward those who disagree and oppose you and hate you match up to God’s? Be honest and don’t make excuses about this! If you call yourself a Christian but don’t have a heart of mercy toward those you’re inclined to dislike, you probably don’t know Jesus. Beg God for mercy and then be merciful as He is merciful. #FollowJesus

“While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’” – Luke 5:12

In ancient Israel, leprosy was a terrible disease with terrible consequences. While a leper’s body decayed visibly and painfully, that wasn’t even the most miserable part of the disease! The worst part was what the Law required of anyone suffering this potentially contagious condition. They were “unclean” in the eyes of God and man. They were forced to live in isolation. To wear rough clothes and keep their distance from everyone who was healthy. They couldn’t touch anyone. Not family. Not friends. They couldn’t live with anyone who wasn’t already sick with the disease. They couldn’t worship the Lord in the Temple or make sacrifices to have their sins forgiven. Whenever anyone came close, they had to shout out, “Unclean” to warn them away. Uncleanness was all that was left of their previous identity.

This man who came to Jesus certainly knew that he was unclean. Physically rotten and unacceptable in the eyes of God and neighbor. With that deep awareness of his own dreadful uncleanness, he came and begged Jesus to make him clean. He knew Jesus had the power but would He care enough to clean the unclean? YES! With great love and compassion, Jesus did what was forbidden… He reached out, gently touched the man, and made him clean in the eyes of God and the world.

This man speaks for all of us – ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’ He speaks for you. Though most of us don’t have an awful disease that makes us social outcasts, we’re all spiritually unclean from the moment we’re born. We are selfish creatures, rebellious in our nature. We routinely reject God’s will and ways to do whatever we want in the moment. Unlike the leper, our uncleanness isn’t limited to our skin – it runs deep into our hearts, minds, and souls. But Jesus can clean even our filth! By His sinless life, sacrificial death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead, Lord Jesus cleans everyone who turns to Him in faith and away from their sins.

Have you humbled yourself before Jesus and asked Him to make you clean? If not, don’t wait! Repent of your sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and ask Him to forgive and cleanse you right now. He will lovingly touch you as He touched that leper and make you clean.

If you’ve already done that, then realize this truth – YOU ARE CLEAN. Don’t let your past lie to you about your situation in Christ. If Jesus is your Lord, you ARE clean. Don’t let the people around you lie to you about your situation in Christ. If you have confessed your sins to Jesus, they’re gone forever. You ARE clean. God knows it. Do you? Don’t believe lies about your situation in Christ. You ARE clean! #FollowJesus

“But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” – 1 Corinthians 5:11

When Paul wrote to Christians in Corinth, he wrote to people living in a culture very similar to our own. Corinth was a deeply immoral city steeped in false religions, sexual sin, and greed. What Paul tells those Christians is profoundly important for us as we navigate the 21st century! What did he say? Don’t worry about condemning the sins of unbelievers. They will certainly sin and God will certainly judge them for that, so we don’t need to. With regard to unbelievers, our assignment is clear – meet them as, and where, they are and introduce them to Jesus. The Christian’s task is not to condemn or fix what’s wrong with unbelievers. It’s to introduce them to their Savior. PERIOD.

On the other hand, we must absolutely be on the lookout for sin INSIDE the church. We must never turn a blind eye toward wrongdoing by our brothers and sisters in Christ. As Christians, we share a sacred responsibility to lovingly but firmly confront sin INSIDE the church. To address earthly idolatries (politics, possessions, power, position, etc.) whenever they take root in a brother or sister’s heart. To speak into their life when they’re indulging sexual sin, holding onto addiction, or failing to live with the ethics and integrity of Jesus.

Christians are NOT to waste time and energy sitting in judgment on the fallen culture that surrounds us. Of course nonbelievers are sinning! We are to confront, judge, and if necessary discipline those who carry that fallen culture into our churches. Those who call themselves Christian while indulging, excusing, or defending sin. Too often, Christians get these instructions reversed – condemning the sins of the world while ignoring the sins of the local church. This destroys our Christian witness and defiles the holiness of Christ’s bride, the church. So, make sure your sin-detector is pointing in the right direction – toward your own heart and the lives of your brothers and sisters in Christ. With regard to the rest of the world, just go and make disciples! #FollowJesus

“And he answered them, ‘Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.’” – Luke 3:11

We live in a culture where cruelty and selfishness are increasingly praised as virtues. They are being regularly modeled by those with influence and authority. Choose to be kind instead! Choose to share from whatever you may have with whomever may lack. Reject the temptation to clutch your things tightly because of fear about the future. Release them with generosity rooted in confidence in God, your great Provider.

Hard times may well come, but prepare for them by trusting that God eternally blesses and rewards those who respond to the poor and vulnerable with the love and heart of Jesus rather than the coldness and cruelty that comes so easily to man. Receive the overflowing grace of God offered to you through faith in Jesus. Then let that grace overflow toward the those who have the least. #FollowJesus

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:9

Two precious words are highlighted here – FAITHFUL and FELLOWSHIP. They are a wonder to contemplate, so take some time to contemplate them today!

God is faithful. He keeps faith with His people. He doesn’t arbitrarily change His mind or impulsively cancel His promises and covenants. He is rock-solid, completely trustworthy, and eternally steadfast. His approach to you isn’t dictated by His mood. He’ll keep every promise. He’ll honor every commitment. The covenant of grace that was sealed with the blood of His Son, Jesus, is an unending covenant. He welcomes everyone who trusts in Jesus as Lord and will never lose or throw out anyone who believes in Him. We live in a world where few are truly faithful. Old institutions, standards, and traditions are crumbling. Faithfulness is frequently tossed aside for short-term benefits. God never does that! God is faithful. Take time to meditate on how God has been faithful throughout history and in your own life.

Then, if Jesus is your Lord, you have fellowship with Him, the Christ of God. Fellowship isn’t some shallow acknowledgement of existence like on social media. It isn’t acquaintanceship. It isn’t casual. Fellowship is deep. In fact, Scripture says that we are united with Christ through faith in Him. We are inseparable from Him and He is always with us. He knows your thoughts, struggles, hurts, and needs. As your Suffering Savior, Jesus understands what you’re going through perfectly and completely. He is closer to you than the closest person in your life. You are in loving, supportive community with Him. Conversation. Comfort. Care. He constantly invites you to spend time with Him in prayer, in worship, in meditation, and in quiet, joyful fellowship. He’s your Lord, but He’s also your perfect, loving, caring older brother. Faithful… Fellowship… #FollowJesus