Mercy is Still a Must
God and the World

Scripture Reading: John 3:16-21

Key Verse: John 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

In the church we often refer to un-Christ like behavior as worldly. The Bible teaches us to not be worldly. Unfortunately, the term “worldly” has given the church a wrong concept.

Somehow, we have translated the caution not to behave like the world into a perspective of disgust for people in the world. It takes work not to allow our hearts to harden against sinners. God loves sinners and hates only the sin.

You could probably quote John 3:16, but many do not remember the verse that follows, today’s Key Verse. God did not want to condemn the world; yet so many “church folk” seem to go there! We fear compromise to the point that we forgo compassion.

Jesus wants us to work hard at balancing compromise with large doses of compassion. Jesus was able to look at people who were far from God and visualize what they could be if they followed Him. Jesus wants to touch lost people with God’s love.

Are we willing to take some chances to invite people to know God’s love?

Others may accuse us of compromising Christian standards. They may think we get too friendly with folks that behave in ungodly ways. It gets messy and is not easy to be in relationship with unchurched people. God needs us to be able to touch them without acting like them.

Father, give me the courage to love all people today. Keep me compassionate and holy as well! In Jesus’s Name, amen.