Mercy: EXTREME Freedom

Titus 3:4-5 “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”

We live in a culture of extremes, radicals, a lack of middle ground.   We are all in, one way or the other, and we put each other in extremist boxes based on one or two comments or viewpoints.  We place extremes on ourselves. 

I have a dear friend, a 6 year old little boy, and an acquaintance, a young girl, and I have seen the culture of the extreme in each of them. 

My friend: "no one will ever love me" (single at 28); my son: "I'm the WORST KID EVER" (after making some bad choices one day at school); that young girl, a new believer: "I'm just so screwed up. I'll never be good enough" (after a life-time of situations beyond her control and choices made unknowingly in response to those situations). 

The truth is,  we often forget the Freedom that the MERCY of God has given us. Our human nature pushes us to focus on a list of things we must do or not do in order to be "good" with God and others.  The truth is,  MERCY was given so we could avoid the EXTREME wrath and judgement of a perfect God.  The MERCY of God allowed Jesus to take the fall so we wouldn't get what we deserved.  That MERCY, when applied to our lives FREES us from unattainable standards and devaluing ourselves in our failure to meet them.  YES, we want to please our Heavenly Father so we endeavor to do good and share his Love. But MERCY brings EXTREME FREEDOM from guilt and shame as we grow in Godliness! Walk in EXTREME FREEDOM today!  And show it to and share it with others!