As most here already know, there is much badness swirling and trying to cause division in the body of Christ. Tonight the Lord gave me a scripture that would
be good for all of us to apply with every word that we speak or type. Matthew 9:13 "But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy and not
sacrifice". For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This is a
time for us all to love those who persecute us, whether brothers and sisters in Christ or those that are lost. Who is in charge here? Who is our example?
Isn't it Jesus? By example He was falsely accused, condemned, beaten, humiliated, hung on a cross and died and not once did He open His mouth to defend
Himself, not once did He revile those that abused Him, not once did revenge enter His heart. He didn't endure the cross and all of the brutality that came
with it because He had to. He laid everything down, no one took anything from Him. Still, He showed greater mercy than we could have ever imagined. He asked
the Father to forgive us all because we knew not what we were doing. My sin is what hung Him on that cross. My sin is what got Him brutalized. My sin showed no
mercy to Him at all and still He hung there and died and poured out mercy on me that I could never deserve. If we cannot show mercy to those who persecute us
then what have we learned. If we cannot show mercy even now then we spit on the very cross that we hung Him on. Please, no more backbiting, no more malicious
talk, no more offense. If any have an offense with a brother or sister, please, forgive them and show them the same mercy that Jesus has shown to us. His heart
is breaking every time we allow strife and bitterness to rise up in our hearts. I love you all and I will hold no offense toward anyone.
