Romans 12:3-8
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Acts 4:13
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Devotion
Today we will conclude our weekly devotions by looking at the last spiritual gift that Paul writes about in our text: the spiritual gift of mercy. Greg Ogden defines this gift as, “the ability to work joyfully with those whom the majority ignores.” The word “mercy” is defined as, “the ability to show compassion and forgiveness toward others.” One Bible expositor wrote, “Mercy is a love that responds to human need in an unexpected or unmerited way.”
Some people have a unique ability to connect with those who are considered outcasts and less deserving of God’s grace and forgiveness. Because of the powerful way they radiate God’s attribute of mercy, people are drawn to them. Because people with the gift of mercy care so much, they are sometimes misunderstood for being too blunt.
In his commentary on the book of Romans, J. Vernon McGee writes concerning those with the gift of mercy, “They can bring a sunbeam into a sick room, while others cast a spell of doom.” Mercy is one of God’s prominent attributes. Some people are blessed by the Holy Spirit with the ability to show and extend God’s mercy toward others.
Paul’s list of gifts found here in Romans chapter twelve is not an exhaustive list. This list gives us a good starting point for identifying the shape that God’s grace takes in our individual lives and in the corporate life of the church. The Body of Christ is designed in such a way that each of us has a valued role particularly suited for us. Spiritual gifts are given to Christians with the purpose of building and strengthening fellow believers and extending the influence of the church to an unbelieving world. When the church is operating under the influence of the Holy Spirit, each member exercising their God-given gift(s), the world stands up and takes notice!
Questions to Ponder:
Do you radiate the mercy of God to those who appear to be less deserving? Are you able to show compassion to the “least of these”? What is your unique spiritual shape? How is God using your spiritual gift to build up the Body of Christ?
Prayer Points
- Declare to God that He is powerful, wonderful, majestic, glorious, indescribable, beautiful, and everywhere at the same time at all times. He wakens the dawn and rises the sun. He holds the stars in place and commands the wind and the waves. Adore Him and bow down and worship the King of kings and Lord of lords.
- Ask the Spirit of Truth to bring to your remembrance any time where you may have hindered or harmed someone as they were using their gift(s). Whatever comes to Your mind, confess that to the Lord. Pray for that situation and that person or group of people. Ask God to turn it to good for His great name’s sake.
- Pray for yourself and our church family, that a heart of compassion would move in on the inside of us.
- Thank the Lord for those in our midst who are called specifically to minister to the least of these. We all are supposed to have the heart of Christ and care for the least of these. Ask the Lord to grant that to you and our church.
Suggested Prayer
Merciful and loving Father, tender and long-suffering Savior, You are full of compassion and mercy. Thank You for Your kindness and gentleness. Lord, I want to lift up Halloween to You as You see that it is tomorrow night. God, I pray for those comfortable opening their homes so those in their midst can come up and get some candy. God, I ask that You would put other things upon the hearts of Your children. Share with these families how they can pass out bookmarks, Scripture verses, etc. with the candy. Oh God, I ask that You would make our big church feel small in You. Release the power of Your love. Send us out to further Your kingdom. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Looking ahead: Please continue to pray for the election as it is just days ahead. Pray for the Lord to go ahead of us and protect each voting poll, candidate, and his/her family. Pray for the Lord to raise up righteousness and tear down wickedness. Pray for His will to be done. Pray we would not grumble but rather thank and praise the Lord for who He has allowed to be in government. Thank Him for He is trustworthy. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask these things. Amen and amen.