Friday, June 25, 2010

The Book of James: Day 3

Today we're reading James 2:1-13. This passage is about treating everyone the same, no matter how much they have or how popular they are or whatever. It askes, "Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?" (James 2:6 and 7.) In one of my Bibles on the side it askes if we treat people different if they're popular or prettier than everyone else. So I'll ask myself that question. Do I? Well, I'd have to say I used to. I always wanted to be well-liked by the 'popular' girls in my grade, but now I could care less if they like me or not. Don't get my wrong, I'm still just as nice to them as everyone else, but I don't care what they think of me or the choices I make anymore.
These verses also talk about all sins being the same in the eye's of God. The same God who said not to commit adultery also said not to murder, so if you commit one, you also commit the other. That even goes for small sins. If you lie, you commit murder. He considers saying that you hate soeone commiting murder, and looking at someone else's spouse is adultery. They are all the same.
In the Message version this is my favorite verse in this passage: "For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy winds over harsh judgement every time." (James 2:13) So if we think that by judging someone you are getting yourself somewhere, we are completely wrong. That's definitly a lesson I can apply to my life.

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