Mercy over Judgment

James 2:8-13 ⁽⁸⁾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. ⁽¹²⁾Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, ⁽¹³⁾because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (NIV)

       

        There was a rich young man who thought that he had a very noble life. He mingled with the best of the social elite and was very well educated in both the laws of Moses and the schools of his time. He thought that he was doing an excellent job of living a sin-free life. After all, he did not kill, steal, commit adultery, honored his father and mother, and therefore, considered himself to be in pretty good standing with God. In his mind, the sinners were the ones who were in need of saving. His list of accomplishments hung proudly in his mind and resonated deep in his heart. Nevertheless, there was something on the inside of him that spoke in the pits of his consciousness that all was not well with his soul. He decided to make a trip to this great teacher who he had heard so much about. 

        Jesus, as he was talking to a crowd of people, stopped to pay attention to this young man who approached him. The young man asked a question, “What must I do to have eternal life?” Matthew 19:21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (NIV) The young man was shocked to get an answer of the sort because he had let Jesus know that he obeyed all the laws of Moses from the time of his birth, but his request was a little bit too much. The young man walked away sorrowful. This rich young man thought that he had obeyed all the commandments, but what he didn’t realize was that he broke the very first commandment. Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before me.” (NIV) He had made a god out of his possessions and therefore, because he had broken one commandment, he was guilty of breaking them all. 

        The Apostle James lets us know that we are to be merciful with all people. There are no perfect Christians on the face of this earth because we are all guilty of breaking some form of the commandments of God. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (NIV) Everyone is born into sin and even when we think that we are obeying the commandments perfectly, we are still falling short. This is why we must continuously be mindful that even when we have to call sin by its name, we must do it mercifully and with love. We are to let the unsaved know that we too have fallen short of God’s glory, but allow them to also know that there is healing, freedom and salvation in God. Revelation 12:11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (NIV)

        Many Christians fall short of the implementation of mercy when witnessing to those who are unsaved. We must keep in mind that God is long-suffering and does not wish for anyone to be lost. Therefore, in our daily interactions with others who are not saved, it is important to show them the grace of God and not just the judgment. Ephesians 2:8-9 ⁽⁸⁾For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁽⁹⁾not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV) Even though we are called to be a light unto the world and stand against sin, we must also let them know that Jesus saved us when we were lost and He is willing to do the same thing for them if they will humble themselves and accept Him.

       

 

The Book of James: 30 Days of Devotion for Men by K L Rich available on Amazon.com.