Tag Archives: Mercy

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on August 11, 2015
Tags: , Mercy,   

A Good Foundation — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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August 11, 2015

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

“Paul is writing to the Corinthian church–a church in conflict. Some are claiming to be followers of Paul, others are claiming to be followers of Apollos, a skilled preacher much admired in the early church. In other words, some are still linked to one former pastor, some are still linked to another. Paul counsels them to grow up. “Who is Paul?” he asks. “Who is Apollos?” Paul plants, Apollos waters, but it is God who gives the growth.

Then Paul compares the church to a building. He himself laid the foundation at Corinth, now another is building on that foundation. The foundation, of course, is Christ, and that is all that matters. Then Paul adds, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him.” In this context, we can see that God’s temple is the church. WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD. What does that say to you?”  Ron Newhouse, “Daily Devotions” (website devotions)

In my neighborhood, we have a house that is having a problem with their foundation. The foundation of a house is what the house stands upon. If the foundation becomes faulty, the house is in danger of shifting, moving, and at the worst collapsing. Water seems to collect around the foundation of this house, which then weakens the soil, and thus weakens the foundation. Now the walls of the foundation are in danger of collapsing in upon themselves — and if they do, the house will collapse.

When we live without Jesus as the foundation of our lives, we live in the danger of our lives collapsing in upon us. There are a lot of forces that are putting pressure on our lives each and every day, and if we do not have Christ as the sure foundation, then when the forces become too great, we run the risk of our lives collapsing in futility. But when Jesus is our sure and present foundation, when we shore up our lives with Christ’s unconditional love, unconditional mercy, and unending Grace, nothing, nothing will be able to shake our foundation. Oh the storms will still rage around us, but the love of Christ is greater than any storm.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on August 6, 2015
Tags: , Mercy,   

The Mercy Rule — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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August 6, 2015

“For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways!” Romans 11:32-33

“The Mercy Rule is God’s plan for disobedient sinners to know that our only hope is his endless mercy. Paul puts it this way, “God has bound all people over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.” All. Without condition. Kristen Talbot won a spot on the U.S. speed skating team in the 1994 winter Olympics. To be an Olympic speed skater she had to stay on a rigid practice and training schedule; any interruption threatened her chance for a gold medal. Yet that’s exactly what Kristen did when, only weeks before she was scheduled to compete she donated bone marrow to her critically ill brother. During an interview she said skating and the Olympics are important, but not as important as helping others. She went on to compete in the Olympics and came home without a medal. That’s The Mercy Rule. Who needs your mercy? Make it more important.”
“The Mercy Rule” (gracedowntown website for Grace Lutheran Church,
Milwaukee, WI)

Many of us know something about a mercy rule in sports. Sometimes it is called a “ten run rule” where, if a baseball or softball team scores 10 runs more than their opponent by a certain inning, the game ends immediately. Sometimes it comes in the form of a team taking one or more players off the field once they have scored five more goals than the opposing team. The Mercy Rule is put into effect to bring about more parity among teams — to even the playing field, so to speak.

G*d’s mercy rule is not that different, because it also evens the playing field. Because of G*d’s mercy, we all have the chance for eternal life — people may think they are better than others, but G*d’s mercy comes equally to all, no matter who thinks they are better, have done more, or are more righteous. Thank goodness for G*d’s Mercy Rule, or we all would be losers.

Pastor Dave