Daily Bible Reading – 9.23.2021
James 2:8-13, If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
In continuing the conversation, James says discrimination in favor of those who have wealth is sin just as murder or adultery is. Even though it may seem minor in comparison to others, it still causes us to be a lawbreaker.
We need to understand that God’s law, as is God’s word, reflects the very person of God Himself. If we break any of His commands, we fall short of God’s holy and perfect will, and are sinners.
The royal law of Scripture, “to love your neighbor as yourself,” was to be the pattern of life in the kingdom of God. It demands that one love both rich and poor alike. Jesus spoke of it in His conversation concerning the greatest of the commandments and even strengthened it as He said that His followers were to love one another as He loved them.
Through grace and the Holy Spirit, we are given power to live this royal law. We do not do so in order to be saved, but because we are saved, we want to show the generous love of Jesus to others.
When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, we will be rewarded or suffer loss according to this standard. It will not be a question of the destination of our eternity but of our reward in eternity.
The expression, “speak and act,” says that both profession of faith and daily life should be in sync. So, the way we speak about and treat others, especially showing mercy to the poor, reveals how we have experienced God’s mercy through his gift of salvation.
Question to Consider:
What are ways you speak and act in mercy revealing you have the redeeming love of Christ within you?
Weekly Memory Verse:
James 2:12-13, Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.