Focus
The world is full of accusers, but for now let them be. Instead, let the law of God intercede with conviction of heart, being guided to goodness not by shame, but in God’s love.
Read
James 2:8-10
You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.
Reflect
Some phrases reveal the inherent oxymoron within: “I’m mostly an expert.” “It’s sort of all there.” “Usually it always happens.” Add this to the list, “We obey all the law, sometimes.” We cannot obey all the law unless it is complete and without exception. The truth is we all fail at one point, or on many points, but what Paul is asking us to do is be honest with ourselves as transgressors of God’s law. In this case Paul even limits it to only the second commandment (golden rule) of the two great commandments. God’s Word is given not to accuse us, but to convict our hearts by its truth. We are transgressors, and the first place we are called to see this is in our partiality to others, which breaks the equation of love from being equal on both sides. This week before elections we are surrounded by accusers who wish to shame those they view as wrong. We find ourselves led into our own defensive accusations against others. In this way everyone receives only shame and there is no love. When we begin to see ourselves as transgressors, we then can treat all others as we wish to be treated— with lovingkindness and mercy. We are accountable to each other no less than we are accountable to God’s law. If we break the love equation for others we also break the love we hold for God and his Word. We need to hold our neighbor in love to have hope to know God’s love for us.
Pray
Forgiving Lord, we come to you with conviction of heart knowing our transgressions against you, and we ask for your grace. We ask you to empower our soul through Christ Jesus to learn love for others as we desire love for ourselves. We see in your Law that this is our only way to salvation, believing in and following Jesus, who loved us even unto death. In his Resurrection we find our way to redemption; then we shall know no shame. Amen.
Go with God!
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