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We are taking a break for the summer until futher notice.

Week 4 - Day 4

Reread James 2:1-13, noting particularly vv. 8-11.

1. What does James contrast with prejudice? What is the opposite action?

“’Royal law’ might be James’s way of referring to the sum total of demands that God, through Jesus, imposes on believers. . . Understood in this sense, the ‘royal law’ may well extend beyond the Mosaic law as fulfilled and reinterpreted by Jesus to include the teaching of Jesus,” says Douglas Moo.

Stronger Jeans (optional): Read your Bible notes or commentaries on the royal law.

2. How do these verses support what James says about the law?
a. Mt. 22:37-40
b. Luke 10:25-37

3. What did Jesus command his followers in John 13:34-35?

4. Sharing Question: As you have studied this week, you have probably recognized a group with which you “play favorites’ and a corresponding group that you treat differently. If you obeyed Jesus’ commandment, what would change today in your attitude or actions toward them?

5. What do you learn about any violations of the law in James 2:8-11?

We don’t think of our laws as connected this way. We speed but aren’t guilty of robbery. So this is hard to understand. Hiebert tries to help us grasp this better: “Our obedience to God’s will cannot be on a selective basis; we cannot choose that part which is to our liking and disregard the rest. God’s will is not fragmentary; the entire Law is the expression of His will for His people; it constitutes a grand unity. . . To violate any part of the God-given Law is an offense against the divine Law-giver.”

6. Responding to God: Talk to God about your violation of His law, knowing that it is a direct expression of His best for you and an offense against His own person. But realize that in Jesus, all of your sins are forgiven and taken away. Thank God for that truth.

6 comments:

Christina Ketchum said...

I have come to the conclusion that sometimes I 'have' to do things (God's will) even without a 'want' to do them and after I do them I am glad I did. Clear as mud! I think TOO many times I base WHAT IS RIGHT with WHAT FEELS RIGHT but feelings can be deceiving.

DA Wagners said...

I would treat poeple who don't know my God and who don't love my God the same as I do the people who do. When I speak to non-Christians I don't say what I really want to say. I say, "I'll be thinking about you" instead of "I'll be praying for you"; "All the best," instead of "Blessings to ya"; "There is hope for you," instead of "He is your hope," and "Have a great day," instead of "Have a blessed day."

God's comfort is for everyone --those who want it and those who don't. Who am I to judged between them?

Christina Ketchum said...

That is a GREAT point Alisa. My mail-lady always says 'have a blessed day' not even knowing who I am. Sometimes she walks up to my house to deliver bulky mail and she ALWAYS has a big smile on her face eventhough she is walking in the mid-day heat! She definately makes Christians look good. I think I am going to tell her that the next time I see her.

Anonymous said...

I think I will make an effort to really befriend my neighbors, the ones who don't go to church and not just the one who I know are Christians.

learning every day said...

I find if I have spent time with God in prayer,reading the word of God, etc. I usually don't have as hard a time with this as when I don't. I recall a scripture from when I was a child basically ..in my flesh dwells no good thing.
I do recognize a group that I "play favorites" with. They are the Christians I am most comfortable around, my friends who have similar interests, etc. There are so many people who need Jesus.I want to be a help to the Kingdom of God, not the opposite.

Sohl Gal said...

Right on, Alisa! What should be an easy thing for me to do, Love Everybody, I make into a difficult thing. Just love everybody. Just do that, and He will take care of the rest. I agree, too, Chris that I have to do this sometimes without an internal desire. In the end, though, I want what He wants for me, and I'll do this because he's asked me to.