I am profoundly grateful for the efforts of all those who worked to make our Church Wide Picnic so wonderful last Sunday evening. Seeing all of our members and guests sharing together around the fellowship dinner was a blessing and gift from God. Yes, it was hot. It was sticky, but the fellowship of joy of God’s people made the elements secondary. I rejoice together with you in what God is doing.
Finishing the event standing in Lake Lanier, baptizing 5 new believers, and looking up to a rejoicing congregation was worth every effort, every prayer and every gift you gave to make it happen.
Let me ask you, “What is a new believer and every new baptized member worth?”
I hope you are thinking right now that everything we do; every sermon, every song, every prayer, every Bible lesson taught, every neck hugged, and every conversation we engage in the name of Jesus is worth it if one new believer is the result.
We cannot rest. We cannot take it easy while there are so many around us who need Jesus.
The results of our picnic last Sunday evening renewed my commitment and my determination in everything Grace does as a fellowship of believers to reach people and win them to faith in Christ.
We must not rest. Give your mind and your will to discover what you can do to exalt Christ and reach people. Let’s continue to be busy for Jesus. The results always outweigh the sacrifice.
Today, I am continuing to preach through the Bible. My sermon is entitles, “Big fish, Big Plants, Big Worms and Big Wind Equals God’s Compassion” from Jonah 4:1-11. Jonah is not so much about a reluctant servant as it is about God who is full of Compassion. Compassion in the Bible can be thought about in terms of God’s mercy. Sometimes the Bible talks about God’s compassion as “Pity” for people in great need. Mark it down; Jonah confirms God’s compassion, His mercy.
Our world lacks compassion. We are weak when it comes to sharing His mercy with others.
Have you found it easy to pass by the homeless person standing on the corner with a sign which says, “Jobless! Will work for food?”
When you are wronged, do you return the wrong with kindness and an encouraging word.
What makes you angry? When you get angry, do you think about the mercy of God.
What do you argue about? Arguments seem out of place when mercy is in the conversation.
The Bible says, “Be you therefore merciful as your Father therefore is merciful” (Luke 6:36). There is no better evidence of God’s hold on your life than when you share mercy with people who need a good dose of it. The word we want to focus on today is MERCY. BE MERCIFUL!