James 4:11-12 — Who are you?

 READ THIS: James 4:8b-10

11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
 
WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

Let's remember from forever ago about the "royal law" (love others as you love yourself). When we go around and say negative things about other people, especially when they're untrue, we are breaking the royal law. We wouldn't go around and spread a bunch of horrible stuff about ourselves. It is unloving to do that to someone else, and it shows that we think we have the right to judge other people and say that what THEY are doing is wrong, even though WE are doing something wrong, too, by gossiping, lying, and speaking unkindly. 

God gave us the laws, including the royal one, and He also promises to come one day and make it clear what things we did were bad or what things we did were good. Knowing that He is the Lawgiver and Judge helps us know that He has the right to judge whether people are living by the law correctly. For us...are we a lawgiver or judge for the whole universe? No. When we judge others, we are pretending like we are those two things, and we're forgetting who we really are...just messed up, broken people loved by a God who forgives us when we gossip, lie, and speak unkindly...and asks us to do the same for others. 


THINK ABOUT IT:

1. Who are you? What comes into your mind as descriptors?

2. Do you like who you are? Do you feel like who you are matches up with who you're supposed to be?

 
TRY THIS:

Look in the mirror and say out-loud to yourself, "I am a child of God. I mess up sometimes, but I am loved and forgiven no matter what."

Comments

  1. YoooonahFebruary 8, 2023 at 4:19 AM

    I like who I am and I feel like I sometimes match up with who I’m supposed to be. I think it depends on the people I’m with how close I am to that. I’m definitely better around a certain group (you guys).

    ReplyDelete

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