Good morning! Today, we will continue our reading in James chapter with a focus on Consistency in All. It is part of the larger overview of accepting others. We’ve read on courtesy and compassion for all, but let’s finish with consistency. May God bless your reading and day.

Bible Verse – James 2:10-13 NLT

^“10 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. ¹¹ For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.”^[e] So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.

¹² So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. ¹³ 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.”

Reflection

In our society we see and hear a lot of finger pointing and blame. Some rightfully so and others still questionable. It’s easy to sit as judge and examiner, but if we examined our own hearts and our own actions would we be free of judgment.

Sisters and brothers, while you may not have committed adultery or murder or prejudicial favoritism, to sum it up biblically no one is without sin.

Let me reflect on a few verses from scripture:

• John 8:7 – “They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!””
• Romans 3:10 – “As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one.”
• Romans 3:23 – “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
• 1 John 1:8 – “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.”
• Ecclesiastes 7:20 – “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins.”

Sisters and brothers, these verses that I referenced doesn’t mean that we should keep sinning, what it means is we are all unworthy in our own strength, power, or attempts; but through Christ Jesus there is forgiveness, restoration, redemption, and freedom. If we are in Christ then we should be merciful towards others, because if we have broken one of “God’s Law” we are guilty of breaking them all of it. It was God’s mercy and Christ’s love for us that saved us and set us free from bondage to sin. We could never do it on our own.

What James is trying to teach us in these verses is the need for us to be consistent in our obedience to the Word of God. In our habits, speech, and in action as those who one day will stand before God. Praise God that His wise constraints bring true freedom. His mercy triumphs judgment. However, those who have not been merciful even though saved, God’s judgment will be without mercy.

Therefore sisters and brothers, spiritual maturity requires consistent obedience. Let us accept others, give courtesy to all, show compassion for all, and be consistent in all things.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for the reminders throughout Your Word that guide us to spiritual maturity. Thank you for your mercy and for salvation through Christ Jesus. Lord, forgive us for the times when we weren’t obedient to Your word (knowingly and unknowingly). Lord, help us to be better examples of Christ in our speech, thoughts, and actions. Lord, help us to refrain from the things that do not please you.

Lord, let today be the day we walk in obedience and let You be judge and jury in this world and over our situations. Lord, move in a mighty way to release prisoners who have been unfairly imprisoned. Lord, heal those who have been judged harshly with untruth. Lord, comfort those who have experienced prejudices or have been treated with less dignity/kindness because of their class/status/ethnic background. Lord, heal our country and world. Humble ourselves in these areas and bring to our attention and mind when we falter in these areas – then correct us so that we don’t do it again.

Lord, we pray for those who have lost loved ones in the Columbia and Venezuela earthquakes. Lord, bring those countries the help that they need.

Lord, we continue to pray for each prayer request we received for healing, recovery, financial stability, safety, and mental clarity. Lord, keep amazing us with Your willingness and mercy to answer our prayers. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

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