by Rev Robert A Wendel
I have always enjoyed stories, books and movies about the exploits of the Knights of the Round Table. Those gentlemen lived by a strict code of honor. The phrase “At your mercy!” conjures up medieval images. Picture a swordsman, his weapon slapped from his hand, lying on the ground, with his rival’s swordpoint against his throat…breathlessly crying, “At your mercy, kind Sir!”
With God, mercy isn’t an uncertain option but a divine certainty. It is guaranteed compassion. At specific points of our greatest need *(Hebrews 4:16), be they any sort of physical or emotional trauma, confusion, uncertainty, disappointment or death itself. Remember the humble Bethlehem innkeeping husband and wife who allowed a young couple use of their stable as an emergency birthplace (Luke 2:7).
The shepherd boy David had learned this all too well. In His wisdom, the Almighty chooses to meet our needs by showing his love toward us through the hands and hearts of others be they friend or stranger. So many times in my own life’s journey I have been the recipient of an overflow of thoughtfulness and kindness. My ride to church each and every Sunday by the van drivers is just one consistent example.
Any church, including ours, likes to think of itself as a ‘family’, ever-ready to extend itself to members and attendees through prayer, kindly written notes, cards, telephone calls, visits, assistance with household upkeep or home cooked meals during illness or when death touches their lives. All of these are welcome “acts of mercy,” often passed on when we ‘pay it forward.’
God’s mercy has been great and He has shown it to each of us. It is wonderful to receive such mercy at the hand of one of His loving children. It is more wonderful still to be the hand that touches, at the end of His arm, reaching so very many crying out for mercy just when life wants to cut so deep.
During the 2016 Lenten season our ladies have kindly agreed to host a mid-day soup and sandwich luncheon on Wednesday, February 24th, beginning with a time of devotion at noon sponsored by the Beckley Clergy Group.
Our ABC Men will be the guest of the Crab Orchard Men for the National Day of Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, February 27th at 8:00 a.m.