July 18, 2014

James 2: 13. because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.

Mercy triumphs over judgment. James is concerned with favoritism and faith without deeds. He warns against treating the poor differently than the wealthy. He then tells us that faith without works is dead. He cites Abraham and Rahab as examples.

 Lip service to the poor is unacceptable. Mercy is at the heart of this verse. James is concerned with a lack of mercy towards the poor. I was struck by the lack of mercy between believers. We better think twice before we judge. It's a promise that we will be forgiven in the same way we forgive. We say that whenever we repeat The Lord's Prayer.

 Prayer: Help me to be merciful to all Your people, Lord. Stop me when I begin to judge, and redirect my thoughts, words and actions to a more merciful path.
 Amen