Title [Text: James 2:10-13] Practice mercy
The Christian life that the Bible emphasizes most is love. It is said that this love is compassionate and helping people in difficult situations, that is, practicing compassion. James urges all of us to practice mercy through the text of the text.
1. If you break even one of the laws, you are transgressing the whole (10-11).
2. We must speak and act as those who will be judged (12).
He said, “Speak and act as those who will be judged according to the law of liberty” (12). The law of liberty here is the commandment of love revealed in verse 8. This commandment is the supreme commandment. According to this commandment, we must speak and act as those who will be judged. God's judgment includes both words and deeds. Or, it is wrong to misunderstand only actions as the object of judgment. God also judges our words. Contempt or tyrannical speech toward a neighbor in need will be judged by God. We need to comfort and give hope with our words. Compassion is first expressed in words. People in difficult situations can be comforted with a single word, but sometimes they are greatly hurt.
Therefore, you must always be careful. Going one step further, compassion must lead to action. As I will tell you next week, James 2:15-16 teaches this. “If a brother or sister is naked and has no daily bread, any of you will say to him, ‘Go in peace. make it hot What profit does it have if you do not give him something for his body to be satisfied?” It is a message to show mercy through deeds, not words. We will certainly be judged before God on the basis of the commandment of love. You will be judged with great rewards for your words or deeds that help your poor neighbor. In the midst of these expectations and hopes, let us strive to live a life of compassion.
3. If you do not show mercy, you will be judged without mercy (13).