Sunday, September 17, 2023 | Gus Hacker

1 Peter 2:10-12 (NIV)

“Once you had no identity as a people;
    now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
    now you have received God’s mercy.”

Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

You belong to God; you are a royal priesthood

You should declare the praises of Him.

He called you out of darkness into His light.

How do you respond to someone who spurns you, lies about you, gossips about you, steals from you, etc.?

Show them mercy through the power of the Holy Spirit.

You experienced love, forgiveness, and mercy at the cross.

Mercy = compassion.

God saw us and felt compassion and pity.

Psalm 103:8-12 — God is slow to anger and abounding in love, He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

Lamentations 3:22-24 — His compassion is new everyday.

God never tires of fresh starts.

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever.”