My devotion for today included Jude 22-23. “And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.” Jude 22-23.
I know this man with whom I have a meal about four times a year. At first, the conversations were interesting. Now, the conversations are more filled with descriptions of health problems of himself, his wife, and others. I put him off for a while thinking that he would ask me to have a meal together. But, I decided that it was the right thing to do to ask him to have a meal together.
Today, when I read these verses, they seemed to fit this situation.
There are people that cross our paths that we can ignore and pass by. We can do so pretty adeptly without even appearing to others to be haughty or smug. We can even convince ourselves that we are good stewards of our time by not taking the time to stop and interact with these people.
But, is this having mercy? Is this what Jesus would do?
We know the answer. I don’t need to search out Scripture to give you the book, chapter, and verse citation. You remember Jesus stopping to respond to the cries of the blind, the lame, and the lepers. You remember the woman touching Jesus’ garment seeking to be healed of the blood flow. You remember the children coming to Jesus. You remember how Jesus stopped each time to heal and to teach.
If anyone had the right to pass by these people, it was Jesus who was truly on a mission to save the world. But, Jesus tenderly stopped each time “to touch and to teach” (what a nice phrase) even the most disgusting and repelling and doubting people. Jesus even was slandered for associating with the drunks and prostitutes.
We are Reformed and believe in the “Total Depravity” of man. We should be consistent with that belief and be willing to “to touch and to teach” even the most disgusting and repelling and doubting people. However, we too often act as if we are thinking: “I am Elect; you are reprobate.”
There is hope. There is the encouragement of a reward in James 5:19-20: “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. There also is the encouragement that the Holy Spirit will help us show mercy by producing fruit within us of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”. See Galatians 5:22-23.
So, when that person seeks contact with you, have mercy.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 