Step out and Be Merciful

9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Matthew 9:9-13

Dictionary.com defines the word “mercy” as: “compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence.” Jesus calls us as his children to a very high calling. He calls us to be merciful to our friends; to our enemies; to non-believers; to everyone that we come in contact with today. He calls us to show forgiveness and grace in such a way that his unconditional love is reflected through our lives so that the world around us would know that he is God and that he is alive in us. How do we do this? This is how – we step out of our comfort zone and spend time with non-believers – we step out of our comfort zone and spend time with our enemies – we step out of our comfort zone and spend time with other people in the world around us who so desperately need to experience the love and joy that you and I have found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Please heed the example from Jesus today and make a move to intentionally interact with the lost people who are all around you and who are crying out for God’s mercy and love that you have within you to give away. Make a difference today for Him.