Devotional - December 28, 2022
James 2: 8-11 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 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.
James continues on with his discourse about favoritism. But, the scope of his argument quickly widens to include one's theological outlook in general. Some consider James' approach as strict and firm. He lays down the law. Well, they are correct, but they need to read what law he lays down. In our culture today, there seems to be a lot of "connoisseurs" of sin. This one is better than that one. There are white lies and outright abominations. You cannot compare this one to that one and so on. Simply put, what does James say in our text? Should anyone think they keep the whole law, I would again refer them to Pauls' thinking on the matter (Ro 3:23 and 2 Cor 3:6). Paul, being one who dedicated his whole life to purity in accordance with the Law. But, there were pluses to measuring one's behavior by a set of laws. It makes it easier to manipulate the situation, the Law, in your favor. It became such a problem, they needed experts in the Law to handle all the cases. Folks back then, like today, would work the Legal system to exonerate themselves. But, to simply say, would I want someone to do this to me is another story. The question is direct and personal. Jesus teaches that all the laws and prophets hang on it and another question (Matthew 22:40). And yet, I still hear people say, but what about loving God? How can people act that way and love God? For those who can admit they struggle with sin and hardship, they know, you can love God with all your heart and still struggle to stay in line with the Gospel (Romans 7: 15-20). Jesus taught us not to judge (Matt 7: 1-3). We don't know what others are going through. Having good boundaries and judging are two different things. Keeping good boundaries for yourself is smart. Judging others is different because it influences how you treat them. Just as no one can look into your life and know all that is going on, do not perceive that you can do so with others. Folks who get all caught up in this kind of behavior are in it for the wrong reason. People who abide by Jesus and James' instruction are in it for God and the church. The grace they receive is the grace they give. Their focus is on the Lord and what He has done and is doing in their life and the life of the church. To be a lawbreaker in James' day, in the Jewish religion, was to be unclean. They were ostracised and depending on the law, worse. Not so in the New Testament church (John 3:17). Folks who cannot accept these teachings often have a lot of struggles going on in themselves and cause problems with others (Titus 3: 9-11). James is clear with the Jerusalem church. We operate under the New Covenant established in the blood and body (teachings) of Jesus Christ. Unlike the believers of the Old Covenant who sought God's favor, we know we are loved and saved by God (John 3:16).
Pray with me, ...It can be hard, Lord, to serve You. We confess we busy ourselves in areas where we need not be rather than focussing on the truth in our own life and our relationship with You. Help us to use the upcoming year to face our own issues and know the joy of Your salvation. Lord, we take this moment to thank-You for Your presence in our life and the blessings You provided in 2022. Be with our loved ones, Lord, bless them in accordance with their needs. Continue to lead and bless our church, so we can be the people You need us to be, in Jesus name, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
