“As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!” (Psalm 40:11) 

But who would ever restrain mercy? The bigger question might be, “Why would anyone restrain mercy?” Maybe the person is undeserving of receiving any form of mercy. Could it be because what they’ve done is utterly despicable and clearly wrong? 

Some restrain mercy from others because they don’t see their own neediness. They wonder why others can’t be “perfect” like them. Not everyone is willing to acknowledge their sinfulness. And that drives them further to restrain mercy from those whose sins are more external and visible. 

Yet God who is full of mercy just won’t restrain his mercy. But his steadfast love and faithfulness also drive him to guide me in paths of righteousness. Now, that’s not always pleasing to me, but he knows that’s the best for me. 

Unfortunately, we may resist his guidance and prefer our own ways. But this resistance only leads to more frustration and agony. As I continue in my own ways, it’s guaranteed to lead me into trouble This is where God’s steadfast love and faithfulness responds and brings correction. And we may misunderstand God’s correction and think that he is against us. But all along, he has our best interest in mind. 

As we misunderstand his hand of correction, it reveals that we are blinded. We’re blinded by our own sins. David said, “My iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see.” The problem is that we only see God’s correction but we are blind to our own sins. 

Even when we misunderstand God, he does not restrain his mercy from us. He has every right to reject us but instead, he chooses mercy and continues his steadfast love and faithfulness. He stays true to his character. 

In fact, mercy clearly defines who we are as individuals and as children of God. This character of God is essential for us as we live as mere mortals in need of God. 

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Jesus asked Peter “Do you love me more than these?” I wonder if he was talking about his friends that Peter went fishing with. Or, could it be the boats with which he earned a living? Maybe it was the fish that he caught which created an income for him and his family. 

Whatever the case, Jesus wanted to know if Peter’s love for Jesus is more than other things in life. After all, Peter had left everything to follow Jesus. Now, he has returned to what he had left behind to follow Jesus. 

Was three days too much time for Peter to wait for his master to return? Jesus had said he’ll be buried for three days and three nights! Then, he would rise again. Peter’s inability to wait caused Jesus to ask this probing, and disturbing question. 

But why was this question asked only to Peter? Seven of the disciples were together in this fishing expedition. It seems clear that Peter was the initiator of this attempt of returning to their old trade (John 21:3). 

But regardless of the variables, it’s surprising that Jesus repeats the question three times. Much has been said of Peter’s selection of the Greek word for love. But for Peter, he was grieved that Jesus kept repeating this same question. That saddened him as if Jesus wouldn’t believe him. Of course, he had just betrayed Jesus three times during some of the most difficult moments of Jesus’ life (Peter’s most difficult time as well). I’m sure Jesus understood that the situation was difficult for Peter too. 

Yet after each repetition of the words “I love you” from Peter, Jesus’ reply is quite focused as Jesus said “feed my lambs” in v. 15, “tend my sheep” in v. 17.” This was the response Jesus expected. Peter was to feed his sheep. 

When he was initially called, Jesus said “come follow me, I’ll make you fishers of men.” Now he says “feed my sheep.”

For Jesus, he wanted Peter’s love to exceed his love for all others. That kind of love would lead to obedience. The instruction was to catch fish and feed sheep. 

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It was a nurse who said “I’ve seen plenty of deaths in my line of work. But this is too much. I’m just tired of constantly seeing death every day.” If anything, this pandemic season has shown us the brevity of life. Our values seem to have changed (for a while, at least). 

In the midst of struggling with his enemies, David thought about the short span of his life. 

“O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am. Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!” (Psalm 39:4-6) 

Without this understanding, we’ll think too highly of life here on this earth. When we give so much value to the things of this physical life, they seem to get inflated. 

But if we can remind ourselves of the brevity of life, this life will be set within an eternal perspective. In that perspective, the value of things gets re-assessed.

What others think of us will matter less than what God thinks. The “losses” we incur get re-calculated into a new set of values. The investments we make here will get re-assessed. Basically everything gets evaluated with a different set of values when you consider the permanency of eternity and the brevity of this life. 

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That’s what David’s body felt like as a result of his sins. He makes a clear connection between his sins and his physical condition. The following are his words.

There is no soundness in my flesh

because of your indignation;

there is no health in my bones

because of my sin.

For my iniquities have gone over my head;

like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

My wounds stink and fester

because of my foolishness,

[6] I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;

all the day I go about mourning.

For my sides are filled with burning,

and there is no soundness in my flesh.

I am feeble and crushed;

I groan because of the tumult of my heart. Psalm 38:3–8 (ESV)

He understood the connection between sin and sickness. He went on further to list other woes in his life. His friends and relatives keep a distance from him. None of them wish to associate with him due to his sickness. His pleas for help go unheard. But he knew that God would respond. 

“But for you O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord, who will answer.” (Psalm 38:15)

It’s not clear why his friends kept a distance from him. Maybe it was due to his sin or they could not stand being around him with all the sickness in his body. They might have gotten tired of his sickly condition. But it was clear to him that the Lord his God will respond to him in his time of need. 

But we know that all sickness is not due to sin. Once when Jesus and his disciples were walking along, he saw a man born blind from birth. His disciples asked Jesus if the man was born blind due to his sin or the sin of his parents. “Jesus answered, ‘it was not that this man sinned, or his parents but that the works of God might be displayed in him.’” (John 9:3) 

But Jesus also saw the connection between sin and sickness. Jesus said, “Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14) He said this when he saw the man whom he healed at the pool of Bethesda. 

David understood that there was a clear connection between his sin and his physical condition. But he also knew that the Lord saw his distress and heard his sighing (Psalm 38:9). He also knew that it was the Lord who would hear his plea and answer him and deliver him from all his distress. Maybe it is all your fault. But he will hear you and deliver you. 

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How absurd to think that a new disciple could make disciples soon after they become a disciple of Jesus. It ought to be clear that they’re just not ready. Look at all the training and experience I’ve got. Compare that with a complete lack of training that a new disciple would have. 

But Jesus doesn’t seem so concerned about my training, experience, or knowledge. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus’ words clearly imply that those new disciples are to make disciples. This idea is inherent in his statement that new disciples are to obey the commands of Jesus. Now within this pericope, you find the command to go make disciples. 

Throughout Biblical history, we see that God is less concerned about status, knowledge, or even competency. He seems to be interested in obedience. But what good is obedience with people who are totally incompetent, untrained, and unqualified? 

Remember, our obedience is coupled with two significant factors within this text we’re considering. Jesus said, “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore…” So it is clear that the command to “go” was contingent on the vital fact that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. Jesus’ authority is the driving force behind our “going” in obedience to him. 

The second factor is the promise that Jesus gives us, “And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.” The previous paragraph mentions the driving force behind the “going” and now, we see the sustaining force behind the “going.”

I’m not anti-intellectual nor do I de-value training — these are all important. But I believe that obedience to Jesus supersedes all other factors. 

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For some people, at a young age, they get this feeling that they want to accomplish something in life. You’re looking to gain something. You see that others have certain things, positions, and accolades. So you set out to gain such things. Some will do just about anything to gain those things. It becomes their life goal and passion. 

The words of the psalmist David made me think of the question “What do you want to be known for?” He said, “Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.” (Psalm 37:3) Rather than selling out to do great and impressive things, trust God, do good, and be faithful. 

I was intrigued that something similar was the legacy of Jesus.  “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38)

When the disciples of Jesus reflected on the life and ministry of their master, they recalled that he “went about doing good.” The vast majority of the multiple thousands he impacted did not follow him. They simply received their healing and deliverance and went their own way. But he continued to do good for the people. 

For more than two decades, I’ve been involved in the training of young men and women for the ministry. Many of them are often looking for special methods that will bring them success. Often, my response to them is, “be like Jesus and find ways to do good for the people in your community.” (Acts 10:38) That was the memory of the people about the ministry of Jesus. 

So, what do you want to be known for? Where will you put all your efforts? Be like Jesus and look for ways to do good and to be a blessing for others. 

Jesus never built an establishment, organization, or constructed a building. If he did, he would be remembered by that. Instead, “he went about doing good.” 

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It seems like the call to follow Jesus comes along with a commission to proclaim the kingdom of God to those in our community. It also looks quite obvious that Jesus simply turned people away when they were more interested in caring for their own needs. He wanted those who would be committed to the proclamation of the kingdom. 

This is clearly evident in his statement “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9) This same concept is implied in the statement “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” The plow clearly indicates an expectation to be a “worker” for the kingdom to proclaim the good news.

But what if I want to be a disciple of Jesus and just coast? I suppose I’ll have entry into the kingdom settled because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross. I’ll go on with my own tasks as I wish. This sounds like a nice plan to me, but to Jesus, this was not an option. 

I see this idea even more in the parable of the talents. The master wasn’t concerned with the people just using the talents entrusted to them. He wanted results. The profits had to be real. 

When we read the text in this way it may be troubling. It’s actually disturbing. It disturbs my comfortable life and challenges me to rethink my faith and calling. 

Maybe your love for God needs to permeate every aspect of your life. It ought to be so valuable that nothing matters more. 

In fact, you need to be so driven and captivated by God’s love for you that you’ve got to tell everyone else. You can’t keep it to yourself. That seems to be what Jesus expects. 

Now, what about the people Jesus spoke to in Luke 9? Yes, take care of all your social responsibilities (The response of Jesus was just a hyperbole). Be caring and faithful to your family. But Jesus has to be number one. Proclaiming his kingdom must supersede everything else. The called are also commissioned. 

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Ever been there? Maybe it was through words or actions others planned out deep in the confines of their tactful minds. 

What’s so amazing is that at that time, you didn’t get it. They did it with such finesse that they left you speechless. It’s only later that you realize what “hit” you. About such people, David said:

“For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated” (Psalm 36:2). 

You’ve got to give them credit. They’re slick! Their words are so smooth that they flatter themselves. And you, you’re just too naïve to realize their plot. Maybe it’s just me. I’m just too dumb to detect evil amidst such skillful finesse and sweet talk. By the time I realize it, it’s too late. 

“The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.” (Psalm 36:3–4)

But even people like me have a refuge, a shelter. You’ll not be so easily destroyed by the plots of those who scheme such things against you. In the midst of talking about such evil plots, David reflects on God’s love for us. 

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 36:7). 

If you have experienced the terrible effects of evil, you can take refuge in the shadow of God’s love. You are not like fresh meat thrown to the dogs. God’s love will be your refuge. You can rest in the shadow of his wings. 

But in the midst of suffering from the effects of the evil plots of your enemies, it’s difficult to see God. Yet his hand is there. Things may be falling apart all around you, but you’re not falling apart. It is God’s hand that sustains you. He is your refuge, keeping you under the shadow of his wings. 

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I also don’t want to ignore and be silent when I see a friend headed towards trouble. I suppose that’s decency, or maybe just faithfulness to our friendship. 

But not everyone appreciates correction. Maybe the word correction is a bit too much. It’s often a “nudge” in the direction that might be a better choice for them. 

Or, shall I say that It’s none of my business. I just need to mind my own business and stay out of other people’s business. Let them figure out their own issues. 

But then there are many other scriptures that highlight the value of correction. Several of these are words of Paul the Apostle to Timothy, a young pastor leading a congregation with people older than him. Here are some of those instructions. 

“Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity” (1 Timothy 5:1-2).

And then that instruction to the Lord’s servants.

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:23-26). 

The classic text on correction and instruction: 

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).

The primary focus I’d like to point out of these verses is the attitude of the person doing the correcting. There is a clear focus on encouragement, respect, kindness, patience, endurance, gentleness, and carefulness.

No, I don’t want to judge, but maybe I can be a nudging voice in the right direction — with some gentleness, kindness, patience, and most of all love. 

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