Know Mercy (4 of 12)
Series: Put Your Faith to Work
Keith Krell
James 2:1-13
What types of people impress you the most? Those who are successful, smart, attractive, athletic, and rich usually top most lists. We would also probably add those who are humorous, personable, dynamic, and popular. We love such people-everyone typically does. But what about people who don't fit such criteria: Those who are unsuccessful, unlovely, unimpressive, unattractive, unpopular, poor, clumsy, introverted, disabled, and boring? How do we treat such people? How do we interact with them?
Perhaps you've heard the old adage, ''You can't judge a book by its cover.'' The cover may look good, but it is no guarantee the book has anything worthwhile to say. By the same token a valuable piece of literature could have an unimpressive cover. It is the same with people. The ''cover'' of a person doesn't tell us what is in the heart and character of that person. It's easy to forget this fact. Thus, James proposes: Don't judge a life by its cover. James 2:1-13 lays out three potent exhortations to overcome our preoccupation with externals.
1. Fight favoritism (2:1-4). James explains that favoritism is fundamentally incompatible with Christ. In 2:1 he writes, ''My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.'' James begins by affirming the salvation of his readers. He calls them, ''my brethren,'' and refers to their ''faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.'' Despite their tendency toward favoritism, James considers them family. Interestingly, James refers directly to Jesus Christ only twice in his letter, here and in 1:1. In this verse, James refers to Christ as ''glorious.'' This description likely refers to: (1) Christ's abode in glory or (2) Christ's coming in power and glory to judge. Those who put a premium on externals need to contemplate our Lord's example in leaving the splendor of heaven and the fact that He w ...
Series: Put Your Faith to Work
Keith Krell
James 2:1-13
What types of people impress you the most? Those who are successful, smart, attractive, athletic, and rich usually top most lists. We would also probably add those who are humorous, personable, dynamic, and popular. We love such people-everyone typically does. But what about people who don't fit such criteria: Those who are unsuccessful, unlovely, unimpressive, unattractive, unpopular, poor, clumsy, introverted, disabled, and boring? How do we treat such people? How do we interact with them?
Perhaps you've heard the old adage, ''You can't judge a book by its cover.'' The cover may look good, but it is no guarantee the book has anything worthwhile to say. By the same token a valuable piece of literature could have an unimpressive cover. It is the same with people. The ''cover'' of a person doesn't tell us what is in the heart and character of that person. It's easy to forget this fact. Thus, James proposes: Don't judge a life by its cover. James 2:1-13 lays out three potent exhortations to overcome our preoccupation with externals.
1. Fight favoritism (2:1-4). James explains that favoritism is fundamentally incompatible with Christ. In 2:1 he writes, ''My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.'' James begins by affirming the salvation of his readers. He calls them, ''my brethren,'' and refers to their ''faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.'' Despite their tendency toward favoritism, James considers them family. Interestingly, James refers directly to Jesus Christ only twice in his letter, here and in 1:1. In this verse, James refers to Christ as ''glorious.'' This description likely refers to: (1) Christ's abode in glory or (2) Christ's coming in power and glory to judge. Those who put a premium on externals need to contemplate our Lord's example in leaving the splendor of heaven and the fact that He w ...
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