I often read in the Bible where it states God showed mercy. What does that mean from God’s perspective? Mercy can be defined as, Compassion or forgiveness toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.
Our Father has the power to show merey or punish or harm every last person on this planet. It is conditionally free however it requires that we turn our hearts soul and mind over to God. We must love Him with all we have all the time. He should be with us morning, noon, and throughout the night and we must love Him with everything we have got.
This sounds easy until we try to implement it in our lives. Today especially, there are far too many distractions. Athletic activities such as golf, hunting, fishing, and so on take an enormous part of our leisure time and some of it carries over through the Sabbath. And, of course, our love and actions should reflect our love for God where we spend the major part of our lives, the workplace.
Serving God is far down the list when asked if we will join someone for a round of golf or similar activity. We say, Sure without so much as blinking. In today’s society it goes all of the way down to the children playing sports. Today it is acceptable to schedule games and even practices on Sunday. It is impossible to justify this behavior when we read the commands laid down for us in the Bible. (Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy)
What would someone say if your response to the invitation to play golf was, “Sure I would love to join you for a round of golf. Please schedule the tee time after 1:00 p.m.so I can have time to go to church”. One must ask themselves if we are portraying our love for God the way He desires by playing golf while the church service is going on.
I don’t think God wants to harm or punish us and He probably views our behavior accordingly, but I believe it is indicative of where our priorities lie. What do we love more than anything? Golf or God?
Think about it! Emulate Jesus whenever possible.
Mark 12:30
‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.‘