Living HD - A Journey Through the Letter of James预览

As part of the examination prep in school, we are taught the basic principle of how to answer true/false questions. For a sentence to be true, every part must be “true”. At first glance, a sentence may appear to be true because it contains some facts and statements that are true. However, if just one part of the sentence is actually false, then the entire sentence is false. This principle is drilled over and over again. If we receive a mark against our choice, we are welcome to defend our reasoning, but our argument rarely, if ever, changes the facts and we have to own the mark we receive.  

A similar case could be made for what James teaches us in verses 10-11. God’s law is true and absolute. In the same way,He doesn’t divide us out into ranking systems or make distinctions between our sin. If we are obedient to His Word in most every area but fail to love others well, or we hold prejudices in our hearts about some over others, we have sinned. While we may try to defend or justify the reasons for what we have done, it doesn’t change the facts. We are sinners, falling short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and in desperate need of forgiveness. 

Take time to allow the Holy Spirit to investigate your life and pray along these lines: "Forgive us, Father, not only for our sins, but for all the times we have tried to justify them before You. Thank You for Your mercy and forgiveness, and most especially for Your redemptive grace through our Saviour, Jesus Christ."