Matthew 9:13 (NKJV): go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Jesus. Matthew 9:13. Hi, it’s Nathan, and this is Day 21 of 30 Days on the Mount of Blessing, pt 3–and other sayings of Jesus.
Mercy and not sacrifice. How often we—religious folks—get this mixed up. We somehow assume that right dogma, right practice, trumps goodness. We’ll make sure we get to church on time—but pass the stranded traveler on the side of the highway because we just don’t have time. What will the church folks think if we’re late? . . . Really? That’s what our religion has done to us? Our religion, cuz in these moments it’s definitely NOT the religion of Jesus. Or that time the style of music in our worship service took a big chunk of time at our elder’s meeting—but no mention was made of the janitor’s crumbling marriage—not a single word. Or when they skirt she wears to church is a bigger concern than the bullying she faces every day at school. Yeah, we still need these words of Jesus shouted above the comfortable roar of our busy religious activity—lest, in our zeal to be righteous we fail to be Christians.
