Thank you for taking the time to read the sermon this week. I thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to post these messages each week. I hope that these messages are of benefit to you.
Last week, we discussed part of James 5:11, but I want us to focus our attention on just the last part of that verse for this week's message. The last part of the verse states, "The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."
The Lord has great compassion on those who are in this world. Jesus is the revelation of God on this earth. During the time that Jesus was on this planet, He demonstrated in many ways His compassion for those whom He ministered to. Matthew 14:13-14 tells us that Jesus had compassion on the people who followed Him from town to town. One way that He demonstrated His compassion was by healing those who were sick among the people. In Matthew 20, we are told that two blind men called out to Jesus while He was passing by on the road. Jesus was moved with compassion for them, and He immediately restored their sight to them. Luke 7 records that Jesus was coming into the town of Nain when He saw a funeral procession coming out of the town. A widow's only son had died, and she was in great grief. Jesus was moved with compassion. He told the mother not to cry, and Jesus raised her son from the dead. On one other occasion recorded in Mark 6:34, Jesus had compassion on the multitude because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He knew that He needed to teach them about the way of abundant life and why He came to this earth.
Jesus cares about what happens to us. He wants to help us when we are going through hard and difficult times. I Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all of our cares upon Jesus because He cares about us.
The second part of the verse tells us that the Lord is full of mercy. Those of us who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb know how true this is. Because God is a just and holy God, He could have condemned all of us to death because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. However, the Lord is merciful and loving. He wanted to provide a way of redemption. The Father sent His Son into the world because He was merciful to sinners. Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross. He took the punishment that we deserved.
When a person calls upon the name of the Lord asking for forgiveness and trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord, Jesus takes away that person's sin. In place of that sin, a person receives that righteousness of Christ. Because Jesus has come into the world to be the sacrifice for sin, God is now both just and the justifier at the same time.
Always remember that the Lord is compassionate and merciful. He has not dealt with us according to what we deserve. By His grace and by His grace alone, we are what we are.
I hope that you have responded to the compassion and mercy of the Lord by turning to Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Jesus welcomes all who will come to Him. There is no one who He will cast out. Today is the day of salvation. Amen.
Prayer Requests
I would like to thank the Lord for allowing me to get my car fixed at a very affordable price once again. Please continue to pray for my health. I am not feeling very well. I am having trouble with arthritis and with allergic skin problems.
Continue to pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic. If you have not been vaccinated, please get the vaccine. Pray that all those who are sick will make a speedy recovery.
There are many places in this world that need peace. Afghanistan, Syria, Israel, Libya, Chad, Yemen, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and the Central African Republic really need our prayers.
Remember to pray for those affected by the floods in Europe. Pray that people will get the aid that they need.
Please pray that the fires in the western part of the United States will be able to be extinguished.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those living in the nations of Brunei and Suriname. Pray that many will come to know Jesus as Lord.
Next week, we will continue in James. I have about three sermons left in this series. On Monday I will post the verses. I hope to have a book review midweek. May God bless you all.
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