The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in James 2:13b,
"Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
"Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
Here is something I wrote on this passage in January 2011:
As James speaks of keeping the "royal law" found in Scripture, James 2:8, he speaks to the issue that when we express mercy toward others it manifests the mercy we receive from God.
The royal law, "royal" because it is the King's law, our "King of kings and Lord of lords" law, is to "Love your neighbor as yourself". It comes from Leviticus 19:18, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord."
Our Lord Jesus Christ identified this as one of the greatest of the commands of the Scriptures. When approached by one of the teachers of the law, he was asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Jesus' response was, '"The most important one' answered Jesus, 'is this: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." The second is this: "Love your neighbor as yourself." There is no commandment greater than these.'" Mark 12:28-31.
Paul refers to this "royal law" in Romans 13:9 and Galatians 5:14 as summing up all the law. He concludes this command is the fulfillment of all the law in our treatment of others in a "single command".
James tells us that "judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful." James 2:13a. His point is not that we can avoid the judgment of sinners at the end of the age if we have mercy toward others, that we can earn eternal life. Rather, as we read in 1 John 4:19, "We love because he [God] first loved us", when we express mercy toward others it manifests the mercy we receive from God. Those who have received God's mercy manifest it in their treatment of others.
The fascinating and exciting part in all this is that from God's perspective, "mercy triumphs over judgment!" Our God is both a God of judgment and a God of love. Neither of these qualities of his will ever be thwarted. However, the love of God has found a way to satisfy the judgment of God and secure his mercy for us through the substitutionary death of his Son Jesus Christ for our sins. Because Jesus Christ took our sins on himself, "Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
How wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
As James speaks of keeping the "royal law" found in Scripture, James 2:8, he speaks to the issue that when we express mercy toward others it manifests the mercy we receive from God.
The royal law, "royal" because it is the King's law, our "King of kings and Lord of lords" law, is to "Love your neighbor as yourself". It comes from Leviticus 19:18, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord."
Our Lord Jesus Christ identified this as one of the greatest of the commands of the Scriptures. When approached by one of the teachers of the law, he was asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Jesus' response was, '"The most important one' answered Jesus, 'is this: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." The second is this: "Love your neighbor as yourself." There is no commandment greater than these.'" Mark 12:28-31.
Paul refers to this "royal law" in Romans 13:9 and Galatians 5:14 as summing up all the law. He concludes this command is the fulfillment of all the law in our treatment of others in a "single command".
James tells us that "judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful." James 2:13a. His point is not that we can avoid the judgment of sinners at the end of the age if we have mercy toward others, that we can earn eternal life. Rather, as we read in 1 John 4:19, "We love because he [God] first loved us", when we express mercy toward others it manifests the mercy we receive from God. Those who have received God's mercy manifest it in their treatment of others.
The fascinating and exciting part in all this is that from God's perspective, "mercy triumphs over judgment!" Our God is both a God of judgment and a God of love. Neither of these qualities of his will ever be thwarted. However, the love of God has found a way to satisfy the judgment of God and secure his mercy for us through the substitutionary death of his Son Jesus Christ for our sins. Because Jesus Christ took our sins on himself, "Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
How wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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