“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matt. 9:13 NIV)

God delights to show mercy

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” (Micah 7:18 NIV)

We approach God’s throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace in the time of need

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 NIV)

Because of His great mercy we are alive in Christ

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Eph. 2:4-5 NIV)

Therefore…

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Rom. 12:1 NIV)

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10 ESV)

Blessed is the faithful and wise manager

“And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.” (Luke 12:42-45 ESV)

Be faithful even in unrighteous wealth

“If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” (Luke 16:11 ESV)

Be above reproach as God’s steward

“For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain.” (Titus 1:7 ESV)

Above all be trustworthy

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” (1 Cor. 4:2 ESV)

“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” (Prov. 14:29 NIV)

Love is patient

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Cor. 13:4-5 NIV)

Be patient and humble

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Eph. 4:2 NIV)

Be patient in affliction

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12 NIV)

Therefore…

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Col. 3:12 NIV)

“Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.” (John 9:39-41 ESV)

The devil has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them in the dark

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Cor. 4:4 ESV)

God gives light to shine in our hearts

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6 ESV)

Jesus is the light of the world

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ESV)

Therefore…

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” (Eph. 5:8 ESV)

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” (Psalm 99:2 ESV)

Forever is a long long time!

Eternity: time without beginning or end; everlasting, infinite, forever, endless; without ceasing.

This is eternal life

“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3 ESV)

Eternity without God is eternal punishment, suffering, and separation from God

“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” (2 Thess. 1:9 ESV)

God sent Jesus so you could live eternal life

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)

Eternal life is a free gift of God

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23 ESV)

Whoever does this has eternal life

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (Johnson 5:24 ESV)

How to know you have eternal life

“He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life. I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:12 NIV)

Finally…

“…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Pet. 3:18 NASB)

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Rom. 8:13 ESV)

Every day we are faced with choices

We decide what we wear, what we eat, what music we listen to, what programs we watch on electronic devices, how we respond to electronic postings, and how we respond to and  treat other people. What makes the difference in how we behave is where we place our trust. It is either on God, and about pleasing Him, or it’s about pleasing only ourselves. When you seek to please God, it is called “living according to the Spirit”, and when you seek to please only yourself, it’s called “living according to the flesh.” The Bible has a lot to say on the subject.

The “flesh” defined

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-21 ESV)

Being made alive together with Christ

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” (Eph. 2:1-22 ESV)

Walk by the Spirit

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Gal. 5:16-18 ESV)

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” (Psalms 138:8 ESV)

Purpose: The reason for which something exists or is done, made, used. An intended or desired result: end; aim; goal; determination; resoluteness.

Ultimate purpose: Fear God and keep His commandments

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Eccles. 12:13-14 ESV)

God will fulfill His Purpose for you

“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” (Psalm 57:2 ESV)

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28 ESV)

Quote

“I am a most noteworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely. I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvellous Presence.”  Christopher Columbus

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18 NIV)

Rejoice: If you rejoice, you are very pleased about something and you show it in your behavior. To rejoice is to experience joy and gladness in a high degree; to be exhilarated with lively and pleasurable sensations; to exult, agree (with), content, delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy.

Rejoice in the Lord always

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4 NIV)

Rejoice in following God’s statutes

“I rejoice in following your statutes

as one rejoices in great riches.” (Psalm 119:14 NIV)

Rejoice in hope

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12 NIV)

Rejoice in God’s presence

“You make known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Rejoice with other rejoicers

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Rom. 12:15 NIV)

“And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15 ESV)

It’s okay to have possessions but don’t let your possessions have you. In other words, understand that your priorities must be correct. God must be first in your life. Look only to Him as your provider and by putting Him first, all your  possessions will be provided to you by Him as needed. (Matt. 6:33)

Don’t put your hope in the uncertainty of riches

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” (1 Tim. 6:17-19 ESV)

Treasures in heaven

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21 ESV)

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26 ESV)

Therefore…

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” (Prov. 3:9-10 ESV)