Mercy and the Law
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”
James 2:8-13.
Do you speak and act as those who are going to be judged? Do you show favouritism?
Some time ago I met a person who claimed to be Christian. Yet when we were in the downtown of our city and he seen ‘street person’, he said quite unashamedly to me. “I don’t know why he can’t just get a job. He’d rather beg than get a real job.”
The person he saw was one of the many people who sadly live on the streets with mental illness.
The person judged the other on appearances without knowing the facts.
As Christians we are called to show mercy because we from time, to time fall into sin ourselves. No one is perfect.
When we as Christians minister we must minister to people remembering all the time that we will also be judged by what we do here on earth.
It is true we are saved through faith and our faith saves us. Never the less we will be judged on how we deal with our fellow man.
There is an interesting quote from the Talmud a Jewish holy book. It is I believe aimed at believers. It states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?” Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual? “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
The Talmud
Have you?
Think about it.
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