Mercy triumphs over judgement.-- James 2:13
James famously lays out an argument for true faith in the second chapter his letter. Faith, he says must do. It must produce. True faith - living faith always does. Faith that does nothing is dead faith. It is not faith. It is anti-faith.
True faith does.
Remember for a moment that in the original writings there were no chapter designations, there were no breaks with subheadings (and for that matter, there was no punctuation!). Read verse 13 again and immediately move into verse 14.
One of the products of true faith is mercy. A mercy that is powerful and triumphs over judgement. Faith is the bridge of relationship to the One who has loved us, and loves us. And it is in this relationship with the lover of our souls that we truly understand mercy. God is merciful to those who seek mercy. He is merciful to those desperate for mercy. And we receive his mercy by faith.
And the full circle:
Those who most need mercy...
those who long for mercy...
are those who receive mercy.
And they who have received mercy...
Extend mercy.
And in doing so...
Live their faith!
God, be merciful to me; and give me faith to be merciful.
For now...
D
