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A Philip Yancey Sermon Summary  It may appear to us that some people don’t deserve our help because their problems are from their bad choices. For example, some characterize those with HIV as drug addicts involved in promiscuous sex. They don’t see their hunger for love and don’t treat them with respect and compassion but consider their affliction to be a punishment from God.
All of us deserve God’s punishment and wrath. But Christ suffered and died for us, the undeserving. He came to save, not to judge and condemn sinners, but to treat us with mercy and respect (John 3:16-17, Mark 2:17). Through God’s grace, we receive forgiveness and love, which we don’t deserve. Our behavior may be slightly better now but be aware that we have failed and will fail like others. It’s God’s grace that has put us back on the right path. Grace is like our beautiful nature, freely available to us, and like streams of water continuously flowing down to the lowest places, the undeserving, the worst. God loves us not because of what we are but what He is. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more or less. We live in a dog-eat-dog world. Giving grace may mean forgiving those who have wounded us, being taken advantage of, and sacrificing our interests for others. But consider the alternative. Without grace, we scorn those who disagree with us, grow hostile towards those who are different, and create a world of division and anger. Look at our harsh world with His eyes of grace. Live by His way. Show God’s love and forgiveness. Treat others with grace when they deserve the opposite. See that no one misses the grace of God (Hebrews 12:15). Bring practical help to the needy. Dig wells for them, educate them, and free those trapped in trafficking. By ministering to the undeserved, we are serving Christ (Matthew 25:37-40). Like an artist, create wonderful things and let others enjoy them at their own pace. Be merciful to reach hearts before explaining your faith to reach heads. We are less than a speck of dust, but don’t worry. The smallest seed can become the largest tree. Our converted, wretched life can transform a society. Summary of talks by Philip Yancey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it4UhakXjrE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA-YeA_I9rA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVYdYX__BIA
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