James 2:12-13 — Mercy > Judgment!

READ THIS: James 2:12-13

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

 

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

So we have two words that seem to be the focus of today's verses: judgment and mercy. Let's break them down...

Judgment is making a conclusion about someone or something, and it is something we are very familiar with, whether we realize it or not! When a stranger walks into the room, within 5 seconds, our brains analyze and make snap judgments of that person before we even realize it. We can be even quicker to judge people if they treat us or others poorly, thinking less of them or thinking we are better than those people... that is almost the opposite of what mercy looks like!

Mercy means "not getting something you deserve." While judgment says "be mean" to someone being mean to us, mercy says we can forgive that person even when we think they deserve to be treated poorly. Mercy is something God shows us daily by forgiving us when we sin, even though we deserve a VERY heavy punishment. James is arguing that since God shows us mercy, and we are supposed to be like Him, we must show that same mercy to the people around us!

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. James says that mercy should be shown in how we "speak and act." How can your words and your actions show mercy to someone you normally want to judge?

 

2. This last Sunday, we talked about how ALL of God's people are made in His image... how can thinking about someone being made in God's image change how you treat them?

 

TRY THIS:

Let's think again about how we speak and how we act... Think of one kind thing to say and do to someone you normally want to judge/treat poorly, and DO it!