Tag Archives: Humility

Message In A Minute: Wage Mercy

When I first became a Christian, there were some people who thought if you played certain albums backwards they had hidden evil messages.

The funny thing is, I know someone who played Highway to Hell by AC/DC backwards looking for a hidden message.

Did he ever listen to the song in the forward direction? The message isn’t hidden, its right there in the song. I’m not implying that the members of AC/DC are evil but the negative message wasn’t masked or covered up at all.

This to me sums up how religion can miss the point.

We look for hidden evil under every rock, we focus on evil, we complain about the darkness, but we overlook the obvious.

There is a battle going on, but we are called to wage mercy, not war. We can get caught up in fierce combat, but walk right past the casualties who need grace and love at this very moment.

You overcome evil by showing mercy, speaking truth, living peace, and offering grace.

Maybe there are hidden evils in certain places, but there are people hurting, lost, and alone who are not hidden from us.

Instead of fighting epic battles that make us feel vindicated. We should be like Jesus, who had time for individuals with great needs. He did warn of a Highway to Hell, but he spent time preparing the path to Heaven, and making sure those on the side of the road were healed, inspired, and included.

Fight for justice, wage mercy, and arm yourself with humility.

-Tom Wise

CONFESS YOUR SINS WITH HUMILITY | THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON

Photo by Liane Metzler on Unsplash

Once again, we need to be mindful that this parable is the third in series of stories, that Jesus began to teach, in response to the scribes and Pharisees grumbling, because He was spending time with “those sinners.”

The Prodigal Son

11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ 20 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

– Matthew 11:15-32

Continue reading →

31 POWERFUL PRAYERS: DAY 19 | A NATIONAL PRAYER OF PEACE

31 Powerful PrayersIn a prayer attributed to Thomas Jefferson, known as the National Prayer of Peace, we find gratitude, respect and humility.

While the prayer in another form likely predated Jefferson, it stands for itself as a powerful prayer.

Today America finds itself filled with entitlement, arrogance and confusion. We need the sentiment of this prayer more than ever. Continue reading →

28 WAYS TO EXPERIENCE GOD | #5: DOWN TO THE NEXT LEVEL

28 WaysAlmost every day we hear someone say “I’m going to take it to the next level.”

Whether it’s a sports star, a coach, a business man or a politician, many of them will proclaim this “next level” idea.

Usually you can’t measure it, how do we know if we reached the next level? If I am in a building and I walk up the stairs then I took myself to the next level. But if I am called to give a little more effort or concentrate a little harder it’s difficult to calculate if I’ve been successful.

Continue reading →