God's Boundless Mercy
Written by Ed Allen
Saturday, 31 July 1999 19:00
The dictionary gives a list of synonyms for mercy that include: benevolence, clemency, compassion, favor, gentleness, kindness and leniency. In short, mercy means not getting what we deserve.
I once wrecked my neighbor?s car when I was 14 years old. He not only forgave me, but also agreed to pay for the damages himself. He was merciful.
The Bible says God?s mercy is "everlasting," "steadfast," and "limitless." We cannot break it. We cannot nullify it. We cannot go beyond it. We will not run out of it. God?s mercy is boundless. That?s what Jesus? story of the prodigal tells us about God. This story also tells us some things about how to receive God?s mercy, because even though His mercy is without bounds it is not without conditions.
Luke 15:11-32
(11) Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. (12) The younger one said to his father, `Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.(13) "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. (14) After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. (15) So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. (16) He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
(17) "When he came to his senses, he said, `How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! (18) I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. (19) I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' (20) So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
(21) "The son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
(22) "But the father said to his servants, `Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. (23) Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. (24) For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
(25) "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. (26) So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. (27) `Your brother has come,' he replied, `and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
(28) "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. (29) But he answered his father, `Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. (30) But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
(31) "`My son,' the father said, `you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. (32) But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"
Jesus? story naturally divides into three parts almost like 3 acts of a play. In each section, a different character takes center stage.
Act I
In the first act, a young, rebellious somewhat reckless son comes to ask his father for his part of his inheritance.
- This is a story of a boy who wishes his father dead. It was patriarchal society and no self-respecting Middle Eastern man would have ever responded to such a request.
- The son decides to take control of his own life and ends up plunging it deeper and deeper into ruin. He goes through several stages on his decent.
- And yet, even as the prodigal always had the option of repenting and returning home, so also all of us, whatever our lifestyle, may confess our rejection of God?s ways and turn to Him in contrition.
- 1. Self- will
2. Selfishness
3. Separation
4. Sensuality
5. Spiritual destitution
6. Self abasement
7. Starvation
- The father?s response is an inconceivable expression of patience and love. Eventually, the son begins to find his way out:
- Realization
- resolution
- Take a personal inventory. (Illustration of the Clip board) Ask the following questions:
Application
- 1. Who?s in charge of my life?
2. Am I doing what I really want to do?
- Come to God through repentance (means feel sorry and desire to change) and confession (means to speak and to own where you really are and what you?ve done with your life.) (Illustration of the Erasers)
- Repent
- Return
- Come to God just as you are. (Illustration of the pajamas)
The second act of the story pictures a waiting father. It contains the most startling sentence in the entire Bible. Verse 20b
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.Even as the father went to elaborate lengths to offer reconciliation to the prodigal, so also God offers lavish forgiveness, however undeserving, to all of His children who are willing to accept it.
- Here is a father whose only concern is love for his lost son. Not his family name, not his squandered inheritance.
- God?s mercy does not cut corners. (The father gave his son the "best robe.")
- The companion to God?s mercy is His joy. Notice the father does not scold the son. ("Well, I hope you?ve learned your lesson young man.") He throws a party.
- So for us, if we would reflect God?s character then we will love the unlovable extravagantly. (Illustration of Dawson?s lambie)
- There is someone in your life today who is less than lovable. Ask God to show you how to love this person this week. You do not ask for anything in return.
- In your self-evaluation list the qualities that make you unlovable.
Act III
The third act features a hard, resentful and self-righteous older brother. He hears of his brother's return and the insuing celebration and is furious. Even as the older brother should not have begrudged his brother?s reinstatement but rather rejoiced in it, so those who claim to be God?s people should be glad and not mad that he extends his grace even to the most undeserving.
- THE CHARACTERS OF THIS DRAMA:
- The younger brother represents the publicans and sinners on the fringe of society.
- The older brother represents the Pharisees and Scribes.
- The father represents God. Even here, with the older brother, the father is patient. He longs to claim the heart both of the younger returning prodigal and the older faithful brother.
- But self-righteousness threatens to harden the heart of the older brother against God?s activity. (Making the same point we made above.) God intends for us to be more than spectators in this process.
- The workplace, which knows all too well the wasteful tendencies of the younger son and the harshness of the elder, needs also the extravagant love of the father. "Such mercy can season the workplace and make it more humane. It can bring peace to the inner warfare of the individual worker. It can bring peace between the overachievers and those who fall far short of perfection. We do not have to choose between the two sons. We may choose to be like the father."
- This week, be mindful of how God wants to use you to be an instrument of His mercy. (Illustration of the extension cord... be the conduit of God's love)
Do you feel more like the younger brother or the older brother?
There is no reason why we can?t be like the father.