James, while
writing as the “servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ”,
stated that his readers were not to have “respect to persons”.
He called their attention through questions as to the manner in which
“rich men” handled them, “oppressed” them,
called them to “judgment” and “blasphemed that worthy
name by which” they “were called”. In chapter two
and verse eight of his letter, James referred to the fulfilling “the
royal law” by loving their “neighbor” as themselves.
We read:
The
verse begins, “If you fulfill the royal law according to the
scripture,...” James began with the word, “If” or
“whether, forasmuch, nevertheless, yet, howbeit and as” “you
fulfill” which means “bring to a close, finish, end, execute
and complete” “the royal law” which refers to “kingly,
regal, befitting and worthy of a king, principal and chief rule,
precept, injunction and law demanding faith, moral instruction given
by Christ especially the precept concerning love” “according
to” or “down from, throughout, toward and along” “the
scripture” which means “the Holy Scripture or writ”. James
referred to the “regal” or “chief” rule within the Bible as
further exhortation to his readers.
The
verse continues, “...you shall love your neighbor as yourself,
you do well:” James added, “you shall love” or
“welcome, entertain, be fond of, be well pleased with, contented
with unconditional love” “your neighbor” which means
“any other person where the two are concerned irrespective of
nation or religion with whom we live or whom we have chance to meet”
“as yourself” which refers to “in the same manner and
respective to one's own self”, “you do well” or “you
make, produce, form, fashion, prepare and bear beautifully, finely,
excellently, nobly and honorably”. James noted the “royal
law” as “loving” others in the same manner “the twelve
tribes” “loved” themselves.
When
we think through these words of James, we discover the way James is
using the second great command of Jesus to challenge his readers.
Jesus told us we are to first “love God with all our heart,
soul, mind and strength” and secondly to “love our
neighbors as ourselves”. James told his readers “you do
well” by doing this. We know Jesus loves everyone and desires
that everyone be saved according to the “Holy Scriptures”. We “do
well” if we love our neighbors in the same manner He does, and
as we continue to observe James' instructions, may we continue
learning to love others as Jesus does.
Next
time James shares about
being a “sinner”
if we have “respect to
persons”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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