I pray God has kept you, as you completed your week, unto His Sabbath day in the midst of all that is happening. It seems the world is constantly changing; sometimes too fast. We are expected to move or go this way or that way in the direction of the winds of change. This is because it is easier to go with conformity at times than to blaze a new path, but we as disciples of Christ must always consider the final destination: the Kingdom of heaven. We have to keep our eyes set straight ahead no matter what the world is doing, nor follow the road that everyone else is walking on in order to reach that final destination. Jesus said it best in Matthew 7:13-14, we should enter into his kingdom by the straight and narrow gate; to do the hard things that no one else is willing to do or desires to do. The majority of people prefer the broad and wide way which is the gate that leads to destruction.
Today, bothers and sisters, I want to share with you a key point we should all remember and understand as we move through our lives in the world and in our churches, schools, temples, and synagogues which is James 2:8, "If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:"
This law is a pivotal commandment and one of Christ's greatest teachings. This is because as we move closer to the end of this age and the beginning of the next, we will be challenged with many new doctrines, various ways to reach or connect with God outside of the teachings of the Apostles and the Prophets, and like the Pharisees of old men will focus more on religious traditions than the true essence of God: Love.
James 2:8 is a door way for us to escape the confusion and the trap that would hinder us from reaching our final destination. It is also a demonstration of God's faithfulness to us, as he stated in I Corinthians 10:13... "There is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God if faithful, who will... make away to escape..." It is through this one commandment that we transcend false doctrines, religious traditions that have nothing to do with God, and the ever present lure of the carnal world. It is by this commandment that we truly shine forth as the sons and daughters of God in the midst of a corrupt and dark world.
Brothers and Sisters, bare with me and let's dig deeper into this most crucial Law. James calls it the royal law. Why? Because it is the most magnificent and superior commandment that requires no exertion or is easiest do; for it is based on the fact that it is right and the most basic of all God's laws. How do we know that it is right? Read Romans 13:8-10 and you will learn that "Love worketh no ill to his neighour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" God's commandments were given to us to not only connect us with Him but to govern us that we might reflect Him on earth. It is right and most natural to abstain from doing harm or ill to someone else. The only time this is interrupted is when we allow evil vibrations to enter into our hearts or minds. For example, Cain, in the book of Genesis, was at peace with his brother Able before he allowed the spirit of hate, envy, and jealousy to enter into him. This departure from the natural desire to love and to do no ill to ones neighbor lead him to be ruled by this evil spirit, which God calls Sin, and the vile act of murdering his own brother.
Don't you know, brothers and sisters, that to love another is to have very spirit of God dwelling in you... Read I John 4:12-13. This spirit is a life giving spirit full of acts of compassion, mercy, kindness, truth and deeds done so that another may be eased of pain and suffering. God does not desire to crush and take life, but to give life, to heal, restore, and bless..Read Lamentations 3:31-36. This spirit of Love is demonstrated most royally in the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, who gave himself freely, as a sacrifice, for our sins that we may have true life dwelling in us;which is to have the spirit of God( the spirit of love) restored in us again. This act of Christ is also a revealing of God's Love for us... Read I John 4:9. It is this kind of love that encompass all of God's commandments, and fulfils them, and needs no church, school, temple, or synagogue to complete it; they can only prophesy and teach it... Read Amos 3:8.
If we fulfil this royal law of loving others as we love ourselves according to the scriptures then we will be God's representatives on earth; his kingdom and royal priesthood... Read I John 4:16-17.. "..herein is our love made perfect,...because as he is, so are we in the world."
May God bless you and Keep you till we meet again
Shalam,
Zarach
Be blessed and strengthen by this sacrifice of praise...Colossians 3:16
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As in James 2:1-7, our churches often show partiality to the rich, wanting to cater to them and build monuments in their name. They become our "royalty." But 2:8 says true royalty comes with Jesus' emphasis on loving our neighbor. 2:9 adds that if instead you show partiality (toward the rich) you sin (and fail to love your poor neighbor). So churches should stop ignoring or neglecting the poor, and use much of their funds for helping them (rather than for building impressive church buildings or paying staff salaries).
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