“Be Ye Therefore…” – Merciful

Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Introduction

This is the fourth in the “Be Ye Therefore…” series.  In this passage of scripture Jesus has just told His followers to love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, be ye therefore merciful.  Then He tells us why… because our Father in heaven is merciful and we are children of the Highest.  And He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.  This is the second time in this series that Christ is essentially reminding us to be like Him.  Mercy is an attribute of God’s character.

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The Book of James – Have Mercy James 5:7-11

Introduction

We are heading into the homestretch of our study in James.  Last time we talked about those who take advantage and cheat in order to accumulate wealth.  The charge we receive next will be challenging even to the point of saying “that’s not fair”.

 

The Book of James – The Tongue Part II James 3:8-18

Introduction

Chapter 3 has only one theme, guard what you say.  We will be picking up in verse 8 and finish out the chapter.

I Just Can’t Help It

James goes right to the heart of the matter calling the tongue an unruly evil and deadly poison.

As we get to verse 8 we need to ponder what James is saying; he says that we cannot tame the tongue.  Let’s stop and let that soak in.  Does that mean we can say whatever we want and have an excuse?  Let’s step into our next segment and see.

 

The Book of James – Perfection James 2:10-13

Introduction

Our next set of verses would seem at first to depart from what we talked about last time, treating everyone the same.  However, as we will find, James is actually continuing the same thought found in the first 9 verses.

This is going to sound fragmented as we go along.  Please allow me time to examine each part and then we will assemble them.

 

Twice Blinded – Judges 13 – 16

Introduction

I was blessed to have been born into a Christian family.  Starting at one week old, according to my mother, I started attending church.  In my youth my imagination was set on fire by all the Sunday School lessons covering David and Goliath, Moses & The Red Sea, Elijah and the prophets of Baal, Joshua & Jericho and the list goes on.  I was especially interested in Samson; after all, what boy, at least in my generation, doesn’t want to be strong?

In later years I could see another side of Samson; this is a side where personal dependence spurred him to make bad choices.  These choices ultimately led to his death.

I’d like to take a moment and hit the highlights of the life and times of Samson.