Mercy Triumphs

Salem Bible Study
Teachings on Community
James 2:8-13 (The Message)

 ^8-11You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: "Love others as you love yourself." But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can't pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God's law and ignoring others. The same God who said, "Don't commit adultery," also said, "Don't murder." If you don't commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? No, you're a murderer, period.  ^12-13Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.

For Reflection:
Have you ever noticed how your first reaction is often times a negative one? The trouble is that the negative reaction initiates a negative response.  Often you say, " You shouldn't done that," or, "You should have..."  Maybe the person had a good reason for doing what he or she did.  Perhaps a question like, "Tell me more about that?" or, "How do you feel about that?" would help you to listen.  Or, "What might have happened if you would have...?" or, "What if they had said that to you?  How would you feel? " might get a person to evaluate his or her own action.  Being supportive is harder but more effective than being judgmental.

Pray that you become part of others solutions not just add to their problems.  Pray to be supportive of others and to avoid judgment.  Pray to listen before speaking.