Justice or Mercy – You Decide!

James 2:8-13 Selected (NKJV)
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all…… 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Do you want to be shown justice or mercy? Many people complain that things are not fair. To be truly fair, we would have to invoke full justice. Justice requires judgment and I am not sure anyone wants to face judgment. We all want justice but most would not want to be held accountable for their actions. Do you offer fairness to everyone else? Scripture tells us that, if we break one point of the law, it is as if we guilty of all. That is a very high standard which we cannot meet. But, thank God, there is Grace!

Our Creator knows how we were formed and what we can do. He knows that we cannot keep the whole Law. The standard is too high for us. With that in mind, He made a way for us to give it our best and, when we don’t measure up, to try again. Our Lord is a Lord of mercy. He loves us! He asks us to love our neighbors as ourselves. That includes offering them grace when they fall short of the mark. Are you gracious? Do you allow others to recover from mistakes? Do you hold them to standards you know you cannot meet? This passage tells us we will be judged without mercy if we show no mercy. Matthew 7 (NKJV) “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Are you generous?

How do you want to be judged? Do you want mercy? If so, you are asked to offer mercy to others. It is not our job to judge; it is our job to love. Part of that job is speaking the truth in love. That means that you will share with people that what they are doing is contrary to God’s Law but you will leave open a path of restoration. You might ask “are you sure you want to do that?” Showing mercy does include telling the truth. But it is to be done with a gentle spirit and with restoration as the intention. Be loving and kind to those who have strayed because you will be among them sooner or later. Remember, mercy triumphs over justice. Be merciful today!

Father, we thank You that Your mercy triumphs over Your justice. It is only by Your Grace that we live! Help us to speak the truth in love when others stray. Help them to be gentle to us when we stray. May we offer mercy over judgment by the example You have set for us through Jesus. Your grace is incomprehensible! In Jesus name we thank You and pray. Amen!

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