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James 2:8-13

⁸Yes indeed, it is good when you truly obey our Lord’s royal command found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ⁹But if you pay special attention to the rich, you are committing a sin, for you are guilty of breaking that law.

¹⁰And the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as the person who has broken all of God’s laws. ¹¹For the same God who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” So if you murder someone, you have broken the entire law, even if you do not commit adultery.

¹²So whenever you speak, or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law of love, the law that set you free. ¹³For there will be no mercy for you if you have not been merciful to others. But if you have been merciful, then God’s mercy toward you will win out over his judgment against you.

Reflect

Think of a sin that is so bad that you just know that anyone who does it is condemned forever. What did you think about? Murder, abortion, homosexuality? A spouse having an affair? Stealing something? What about telling a lie? How about gluttony? Fortunately, we can all think of the one sin that is excusable - speeding. Not really! You see, in God’s eyes, no sin is greater than another. If you murder, you have sinned against God. If you tell a little white lie, you have sinned against God. And yes, if you speed, you have sinned against God!

Jesus said that the second most important commandment is to “Love others like you love yourself”, second only to “Love God with all your heart, mind and soul”! Any sin is sin and any sin breaks Gods Law of Love! We are reminded that because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, God’s Law of Love sets us free to love others.

Respond

What is God’s Law of Love?

What sin in your life is keeping you from living out God’s Law of Love?

Why is it important for us to be merciful to others?

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