Faith that Loves
November 9, 2014
We live in a world that is fractured by "isms": racism, classicism, sexism, ageism, etc. We live in a world plagued by prejudice, partiality, and favoritism. We're constantly sizing people up by superficial externals: looks, education, wealth, status, race, sex, faith, etc. Then, we treat that person according to their level of "worth" in our eyes. This system of merit is diametrically opposed to grace and mercy, the essence of Christianity.
In our text tomorrow, James quotes Jesus: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." We've heard this. But do we do it? Do we do it on a practical level? James teaches us this hard truth: how we relate to people reveals how much we understand God's impartial and unconditional love for us. James reminds us that living faith leads to loving others with unconditional love, the same love Jesus has for us.