√ Reality Check

James Chapter Two
This title might seem out of place but when you read todays journal you will understand that really knowing that your loved will change the way that you live!

Scripture: James 2:8
(New Living Translation)
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.”

Observation: There are a lot of good verses to choose from in this chapter. I could have picked verses about partiality or I could have decided to use a verse about faith and works. The reason I chose verse eight is that I believe that this verse really ties the whole chapter together. Without love there is nothing. God is Love! He is not partial not wanting anyone to perish (II Peter 3:9). To show partiality is to deny the love that god has for us. If you really think about it, the way God could treat us is way beyond making us sit on the floor. Paul writes in Romans chapter 3:10-18, that no one deserves anything from God except His judgment. The law described the love that God demanded that we have for one another. If I covet from my neighbor I don’t trust what God has given me and I don’t want my neighbor to be blessed. Instead I want what they have for myself. The law required that we treat people in the way that God through His love would have them be treated (see Romans 13:8-10). I can say that I have faith but if God’s love is not being demonstrated by my works than my faith is useless for I have never understood what God’s love means to me personally. Faith and works working together will reveal that I truly “get it”, that I am operating in the “liberty” that God’s love has given me (see verse 12 and 1:25).

Application: The way I treat people really reveals the measure of the freedom of God’s love that I am living in. When I am partial to others I am demonstrating that I fear that there are certain things I must do or a certain way I must look in order for God to treat me special. If my works are not demonstrating the way that God has loved me than I have no faith in God’s love for me at all. That means I am still bound by my performance. I perform for rich people and treat poor people poorly because I feel that the rich can give me benefits. I have not understood that God took all of us poor beggars and gave us life. When we take care of the poor we honor what God did for us. When we cater to the rich we are judging that looks and performance is what counts. What you honor speaks of your ideals! My works (actions) reveal that I have faith or really to whom my faith is in.

Prayer: Oh Lord God, I see in so many ways that I still am in performance mode. My works must demonstrate that your love has rescued me. My works must reveal that I needed your love as much as anyone! Without demonstrating your works of love my faith is useless. (I Corinthians 13) Today help me to love others as myself (as you love me).

Posted by Reality Check on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 12:33 AM | Permalink