Gift of Mercy

Currently the ILA Students are continuing their talk on spiritual gifts. I have really enjoyed sitting in on classroom study time. I have sensed that the students enjoy studying this topic and from what I can see the participation level is pretty high, at least that is what I noticed in the 6-8th grade boys classroom on Sunday evening.

Like I have said many times, Mr. Todd (6-8th grade boys Teacher) does a wonderful job teaching. He is always very organized, with things written on the chalk board and questions ready to be asked. This particular evening the boys were talking about the gift of mercy. On the board was written, “Gift of Mercy- bringing relief to the immediate needs of someone in need or hurting.” This was read aloud by Mr. Todd and after reading this he shared a story about his oldest daughter Teagan who is in the 4th grade. He shared that Teagan has a special love for the elderly. One time, the family went to visit a relative in the retirement home. Teagan walked into people’s rooms (who she didn’t know) and began talking to them bringing joy and relief to those who were older and not as mobile. After sharing this story, Mr. Todd asked the boys to help formulate a list of possible groups of people who are in need or hurting. The boys decided on this list (elderly, homeless, poor, abused, orphans, sick, those addicted to drugs, alcohol, the mentally ill and those who are widowed). Next, it was time to see what the Bible said about mercy. They dove right into the passage in Luke chapter 10, the story about the good Samaritan; 30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' After reading the passage, questions were asked such as, “What did the Samaritan do to show mercy?”
Here are some answers from the boys.
Cameron -“Bandage his wounds.”
Adam- “Paid for him to be in an inn.”
Zach- “Put the man on his donkey.”
Isaiah- “Paid for his long term care.”

After further discussing the details of the story, Mr. Todd ended by telling the boys that a point he would like to make is that the people who you would have thought would have helped the man in the story just passed by. It is not enough to come to ILA and say, “I am a Christian, I go to ILA.” It is important to act like it in your own life, outside of ILA.