Episode 46: James 2

Today's meditation is based on James 2 from the Passion Translation

I do not show prejudice or favor one group of people above another. God chooses the poor to make rich and to be heirs of the kingdom-realm that he promised to those who love him. I do not shun the poor to try to impress the rich. 

My calling is to fulfill the royal law of love given to me in Scripture. I love and value my neighbor as I love and value myself. For keeping this law is the noble way to live. So I do not commit sin or violate this royal law of love by showing prejudice.

I know it is a losing battle for me to try to keep all of the law of Moses. If I fail in even one point, I'm guilty of breaking the law in every respect. I speak and act in every respect like one who is destined to be tried by the perfect law of liberty, always remembering that judgment is merciless for the one who judges others without mercy. By showing mercy, I take dominion over judgment.

If I claim to have faith but demonstrate no good works to prove it, I am a liar. This kind of fruitless faith can't save anyone. If a brother or sister in the faith is poorly clothed and hungry and I leave them saying, “Good-bye. I hope you stay warm and have plenty to eat,” but don’t provide them with a coat or even a cup of soup, what good is my faith? If my faith doesn’t involve action it's phony.

I show my faith by my works as proof that I believe. Believing that there is one true God is not enough. It's wonderful, but even the demons know this and tremble with fear before him, yet they’re unchanged—they remain demons.

If my faith is divorced from good works it's phony. Abraham was found righteous before God because of his works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. His action cooperated with his faith, and by his action faith found its full expression. Because Abraham believed God, his faith was exchanged for God’s righteousness and he became known as the lover of God. From this, I can clearly see that a person is seen as righteous in God’s eyes not merely by faith alone, but by his works. 

Rahab the prostitute was also found righteous in God’s eyes by her works, when she received the spies into her home and helped them escape from the city by another route.

Just as a human body without the spirit is a dead corpse, so my faith without the expression of good works is dead. So I mix my actions with my faith, and my life is fruitful.

Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing. 

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Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/sanchii/piercing-darkness
License code: DI8BNZDDBZPHFFRD

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