Prayer
Today before praying, take 5 minutes to write a list of things you are thankful for. Specific things. Like this:
Melting snow this morning
My boy’s kind heart
My girl’s happy attitude lately
Good times with God this week
Phone conversation with my friend
Clarity about that sticky job situation

Recognize God’s gifts. It’s an amazing way to tune in your heart to what he’s doing around you.

Then ask him to meet with you today.

Scripture
James 2:8-13 But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators. For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law. Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom. For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.

Reactions
Now we’re digging in to the word of God in the Old Testament law, which the Jews were super familiar with. What commands does James list?

Have you heard them before?

Digging below the surface
Start thinking through this section by looking at verse 12 first (starting with “Speak…”). How does this idea of a “law that gives freedom” change the tone of the passage?

Is James making a list of dos and don’ts in this book so we feel guilty?

Go back to the Old Testament book of law, Deuteronomy. Read 6:4-9. Now compare Matthew 22:35-40 and Galatians 5:14. What is the most important law?

Making it stick
Do God’s commands make you feel guilty?

Should they?

Notes
For years I’ve lived under God’s law as if I had to keep working harder to be a better Christian. All the commands in the Bible seemed to yell at me, “You failure! You can never be a good person. You can never make God happy!”

Reality check: I don’t have to work to make God happy! James writes that if I fail to keep just one of God’s commands, I’m guilty. But I don’t have to stay guilty. Jesus paid for my guilt when he died on the cross. He loves me just the way I am. He makes me a new person, free from past guilt! I could never be perfect, and I don’t have to be, because Jesus was.

“Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law that gives freedom.” God gives us his law so we understand that by obeying him life goes better for us. We are blessed (James 1:25) when we obey, but we shouldn’t walk around looking for God’s pat on our back for doing a good job.

I get to choose to love others (in this passage, particularly, without partiality) because it is God’s way of freedom. If I’m honest, when I choose not to love others, I’m letting a chain of selfishness hang around my heart. God doesn’t want that for me. His law sets me free.

God, I’m just going to write this verse on my heart. I get to speak and act like a person judged by a law that gives freedom, not condemnation. Jesus, thank you for taking my condemnation on the cross so that I can be free.

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