But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. — Matthew 9:13 KJV
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” — Matthew 9:13 NIV
Thought and Reflection
God is kind. Yes, we remember the blazing moments that he was fed up and angry with the immorality and rebellion from His nation. We remember these events precisely because they were striking and also because they didn’t happen often in the many years that in the time He led the Israelites. God has revealed to us His love for us. God demonstrated it to Nineveh in spite of Jonah. God showed His heart through Jesus His compassion for the people.
God has shown His mercy and affection for us by inviting us sinners to His side to save us. He won’t leave us unchanged and content with our sins. He does, indeed, call us to repentance. However, the reality to think that Almighty God who is supreme ruler of the earth and heavens would take a moment to call us in and give us the chance to experience the mercy of God is just too amazing to be real. The same God invites us to show the same grace with other people.
My Prayer
Thank You Lord for being tender and powerful, compassionate, forgiving and just, and merciful and holy. Help me develop by these set of character traits that define my character. I don’t wish to be self-righteous, but I want to be righteous.
I do not want to be a bully, but rather compassionately robust. I don’t want to appear insincere, but I want to be honest and kind. I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit and gently challenge me in areas that require growth and transformation. I pray that others will be able to see that I am a mirror of You. By the grace of Jesus I ask. Amen.