Posted by Bigfish69 on 5:27 pm | Categories: church
...
it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over
others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.
For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a
person who has broken all of God’s laws. For the same God who said,
“You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” (James 2)
Question: If you murder someone but don't commit adultery, have you still broken the law? Which law?
So
whatever you say or whatever you do, remember you will be judged by the
law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not
shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be
merciful when he judges you.
REMEMBER: The bible equates murder to hatred (Num 35; 1John 3).
ALSO
NOTE: Favouritism is equated to murder because to prefer one person
above another reveals the heart of snubbing, dislike, ignoring, hatred,
bigotry, etc. In short, favourtism is another form of hate.
In
other words, as breaking even one plate in a set of tableware results
in a broken set,so breaking even one of the 'laws' still results in
breaking the 'Law' no matter how much you profess "It was just one
plate" or "It was only a small plate". There is ONLY one LAW.
Why does James also
reveal that favouring or rejecting a person based upon the "type of sin
they have done will "cause you yourself to sin"? How does favouring or
showing prejudice break violate the need to "love others as yourself"
or "love others as God loves you"?
QUESTION
How are we to love people who do wrongly against us?
- Reveal what they have done to them and if they refuse to listen and change, leave it in God's hands.
- Always hope and encourage restoration.
- Choose to focus on the influences upon them rather than choosing to fight them themselves. Thus be quick to forgive them, don't take offense, show them mercy and grace, etc.
- Always find ways of blessing them, praying for them, rejoicing and weeping alongside them, being generous in their needs, do more than is expected or asked for them, etc ... without ever expecting appreciation or good will to be given in return.
- Recognise they are 100% free (due to Christ) even if they choose not to act upon this freedom.
