week of 09/21/11 4th recorded HighQuest James 2:6-13

The passage I read was James 2:6-13

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A8-13&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

Hard to pick just one verse that sticks out to me here. Every verse seems to stand out as the most meaningful. If I had to pick, I’d say verse 8 or 13.

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 13 Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

As I reflect:

First off James is dealing with our sense of favoritism in this passage. Specifically that we aren’t to have any. If you love the rich person and show them the best seat at your dinner but don’t treat the poor man the same, then you cannot excuse yourself saying that you were just showing the rich man the treatment you should. Being nice to the rich man isn’t the problem with that. Not treating the poor man the same is the problem. Just think, God chose some very incapable, hated, lowly people to qualify for a multitude of callings. For example: He chose me.

Not only does he deal with the favoritism between people, but also favoritism of commands or laws (also known as selective obedience). Think about it paralleled to a job today. If you go to work and think you are any better than a co-worker who always breaks many rules and yet you continuously break even just one rule, then you are in the wrong and may just as easily be fired for the breaking of that one rule as your co-worker may be fired for breaking many. When you find yourself standing in line at the unemployment office and you notice your ex-co-worker in line with you, you may better note the similarity in your both. It is likewise with the law of God. If you break even one commandment, you are as guilty as had you break them all. This however isn’t stated in a way as to cause guilt or condemnation but rather in such a way as to enforce the idea of not being able to perform in a righteous and deserving manner on your own. You will eventually in some way sin, and when you do you are as guilty and as in need of grace as anyone else. In this way the passage is wrapped up with sharing mercy in the same way you receive mercy from God. Don’t be partial giving mercy to one person and not to another. This is the same principal through the entire passage. For me, this passage deals with favoritism and makes clear that it can easily be a sin.

My response to the Lord:

Lord, may you help me to be transparent not only with others but also with myself. May I not show others favoritism but rather treat everyone as you treat me. May I be merciful and giving. May I forgive and love unconditionally. Lord, I ask you to do these things through me because in my flesh I know I cannot alone. Please Lord provide in me the type of light you want to shine, the type of message you want delivered. In Jesus’ name.