Unfortunately this is often how the faith message is portrayed. It is that without faith it is impossible to please God and that the just shall live by faith. But we must not become like the Pharisees. We must remember mercy.
How many times have we become so religious in our walk of faith that we have forgotten to show mercy? How often have we separated others and ourselves from the mercy of God?
God has given us the measure of faith, but that does not give us he right to look down our noses at those who may be weak in faith. Romans 14:1 says, "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. If a person is weak in faith, we are to receive him without judging his doubtful thoughts."
How many times have we turned people away because they did not meet our "faith specifications"? How often have we looked at our brothers and sisters in the Lord and said, with just a touch of superiority in our voices, "They failed to receive because they didn't have enough faith"?
John G. Lake overheard one of his workers turning away an individual from a healing service. The worker asked if the person had faith to be healed. When the person responded that he did not, the worker said he would be unable to receive healing, Dr. Lake rebuked his worker and instructed him never to turn away a person for lack of faith. In Dr. Lake's view, they could get the individual healed on their faith, then teach him faith.
This is an attitude all Christians should develop. Always remember that it is God's will to meet the needs of the people. Whether through our faith, their faith, the gift of the Spirit, or His mercy, God will reach people on their level.
Let us not forget mercy. We have the spiritual weapons at our disposal to keep the enemy in retreat. But should our faith seem impaired, we can cry out for the mercy of God. His mercy helps us enter into faith's rest. We realize that even when our aim is off target, God in His will meet our needs anyway.
God's mercy existed before our faith, and it will extend beyond our faith.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers