July 17th, 20

JULY 17,   There is a Law that can Set us Free

Isaiah 32-25 and James 2

There is a law that can set us free.  James wants us to be free of favoritism.  Favoritism is self-serving.  We show favoritism to others for what it might mean to us.  That person might be able to make me look good, feel important, open doors for me, provide me with opportunities.  So we show favoritism because we are looking for the favor, not because of our love for the other person. James calls these evil motives.  This is the royal law of the world, as it were.  You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.  But James is pointing us to another law - the Royal Law of God’s Kingdom.

Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: "Love your neighbor as yourself. (Jms 2:8 NLT)

Favoritism might seem like a little sin but James takes this seemingly benign practice and says it’s evil, and that by violating it, we are guilty of breaking the law.  He says it’s evidence that we don’t really get the meaning behind God’s royal law.  Verse 12 says, 

So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free.

God’s royal law sets us free and God’s royal law is Love.  Remember what it says, Love your neighbor as you love yourself.  His Royal Law isn’t orthodox thinking, that I believe everything correctly, and all my theology is in order.  And it’s not pious actions.  His Law can’t be reduced to theological statements or a list of good things you must do or must avoid doing.  No, the Royal Law of God is love, which produces right thinking and action.  Love lived out is only possible, though, when we experience this Love ourselves.  When we receive His love and then allow His love to flow through us, into this world, healing and freedom happen.  This is walking in the Spirit.  We are being healed and set free and we can offer that same thing to others. That’s the Gospel.  That’s the Good News.

So let us look to God’s Royal law.  When we experience God’s love, then we can live it out.  Let’s be set free. That can happen!

You are loved!