‘Kingdom Great’ means merciful to the core. God's perfections are wrapped up in his mercy. 'Be merciful as your Father is merciful', Jesus says. God was so determined to be merciful that at great cost, he sent his only Son Jesus Christ to do what we could not do. ‘I needed someone to wash my sins away. And now I sing a brand new song, amazing grace the whole day long. Christ Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay.’ Jesus teaches a kingdom festival of the heart that rejects anger, lust, unfaithfulness & careless words - a heart with little baggage, giving out mercy as though it were pennies.
I believe that God increases our reservoir of mercy as we give it away. It is not about arriving spiritually, or waiting for God to fill our tank. Too many of us wait too long to give away an outrageously unexpected goodness indiscriminatingly, even to those don’t deserve it. Fear or pride can keep us from action. Jesus says that the one who acts on His words will stand strong, not those who only come to him and listen. Action can be the catalyst that empowers the giver and releases, even one’s own soul, from bondage.
I am fascinated with Jesus’ teaching about ‘disarming your adversary by an outrageously unexpected goodness’ in Luke 6. It doesn’t have to be simply ‘turning the other cheek’ - it can be helping someone you hate, or simply doing some unexpected kindness. Make something up!! But do act!
