James (W4D4) The Opposite of Favoritism
Thursday: The Opposite of Favoritism
PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word.
READ: James 2:8-11
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
UNDERSTAND: get a deeper understanding of the key words
Really Keep. Fulfill. To perform over time. The solution to favoritism is not a one time fix. It is ongoing. It is a constant struggle to do what is right.
Love Your Neighbor as Yourself. It is a natural part of being human that we care for our basic needs. Even if you are not happy with your appearance, not doing things you are proud of or are in a low place in life --you care for yourself. Why not do that for others (See Luke 10:25-37).
Sin. To miss the mark. To wander away from the things God sees most important.
Lawbreakers. One who breaks the law.
Stumbles at one point. Too often we believe that if we do a bunch of things right we can excuse a few bad things. Not so. If you were to steal from a store you could not use the excuse that you did not kill anyone to get of trouble. By breaking the law just once you become a lawbreaker in need of grace or mercy in order to be pardoned.
APPLY: What is this passage calling me to do?
What does it really mean to “love your neighbor as yourself”? Why is it so difficult?
When was the last time you sacrificed something to help someone else? (See Acts 2:42-47)
What are some sins in your life you tend to overlook or rationalize?
PRAY: Ask God to help you love others as you do yourself. Thank God for providing Jesus as a way to pardon you from being a lawbreaker.
