I really enjoy reading pastor and author Kevin DeYoung. He is amazingly insightful, and very articulate. Recently he wrote some brief thoughts on The Gospel Coalition’s website that I found perceptive, as well as convicting.
Much Grace. Enjoy…
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7).
Would you like others to remember your failings as long as you remember theirs?
Do you like it when people assume the worst about you? Put the worst possible construct on your motives? Never give you the benefit of the doubt? Size you up and figure you out 140 characters at a time?
Do you like it when others are quick to speak, quick to anger, and slow to forgive? How does it feel when others speak about you instead of to you?
What if the measure you used with others was the measure used with you? What if everyone else took things personally? What if tearing you down became someone else’s personal mission in life? Have you ever tried to see things their way?
Have you ever been mistaken for a son of encouragement like Barnabas or a great refresher like Onesiphorus?
Are people more surprised when you are outraged and offended or when you are tender and compassionate?
How would I answer these questions? How am I doing? Every “you” in the questions above is also for me.
Have mercy on stupid and sinful people. You and I will be one of them soon enough.
Selah.