James 2: 12-13 "Si speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. "
Our first exhortation begs the question: how does such a person act and speak, and what on earth is this alleged law [of liberty]? This isn't exactly the shortest answerable essay on earth, so what does this exclude? Enslaved behavior. I can't worry about having to earn everything and getting struck with lightning every mistake and slip up I make. God's perfect standards are not enslaving except those who are not ruled in their hearts by the law itself. These royal subjects belong to The Christ King, redeemer of the broken ones. He has set them free from slavery to sin as their master, and from earning salvation, which they (we) never could anyways.
Speaking and acting is primarily with other people around us, and so judgment and merciful behavior is describing interactions with other people. Now that I have been set free, I will interact differently with those around me. When I am wronged, there is no need to fight for my dignity, for Christ has defended it to the hilt, and more. Even when I had none, he gave me HIS in the most lopsided transaction in any economy ever.
So let me act as a free man and a distributer of mercy, not one of judgment of people's shortcomings. I distribute something far inferior to the Royal Law, and I am a fool to pretend it is some sort of substitute. And the end is not God's glory being lifted up, but my own. Help me. I need You. Amen
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