"12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
Many times I feel it is human nature to see people not as our neighbors or children of God but what they can give us, what advantages their presence or friendship provides. We are drawn to aesthetic beauty when it is meaningless, we value people based on their likability and find it difficult to love the unlovable. That is the challenge shown in this text today.
He asks "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?"
We do not deserve any of God's mercy. However God goes out further than that and not only shows us mercy but lets us inherit his kingdom and become his children. That is mind boggling in it of itself.
Once we quit focusing on ourselves and shift our attention and thoughts to God and how amazing his love is to us, loving others in this world becomes much less difficult. Because He loved us first.
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1 comment:
thanks for your reflection, miriam. i agree with your statement that favoritism is so very natural to our sinful nature. but the passage clearly states, "believers in Jesus Christ MUST not show favoritism". instead of acting towards others according to our natural preferences, we must strive to act in accordance with the higher law of love.
james also points out that he who keeps the whole law yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. how all-encompassing God's law is! how it searches us and discerns even our most secret motives and intentions! if we stumble at just one point it is equivalent to breaking the whole of it. this passage is just another reminder that even the most morally upright are guilty under the law, and why the gospel is the only hope for both the "morally upright" and wretched sinners alike.
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