JAMES DAY 14

DAY 14
SEE YOURSELF IN OTHERS
James 2:8-11

James shows us a second way to love below the surface in v.8-11. He says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” James quotes Jesus who quoted Moses. To love your neighbor as yourself, you’ve got to see yourself in others.

You have to put yourself in someone else’s situation. Don’t you wish sometimes you could be totally vulnerable with people and say, “I’m afraid, I’m nervous, I’m tired, I’m lonely, I’m hungry, I feel helpless, I don’t know what to do - that’s why I snapped you, that’s why I’ve been so standoffish, that’s why I didn’t text you back.” Don’t you wish people could see a day in your life and not judge you? You don’t need someone to excuse your sins, you need someone to understand you.

That’s the gift you give other people when you see yourself in others. You say, “If there’s all this stuff nobody know about me, what might they be going through that I know nothing about?” See yourself in others to love below the surface.

Now, what does James mean with all this stuff in v.9-11 about breaking all the law? He’s just saying, “Don’t excuse one sin by saying ‘here’s a bunch of sins I don’t do’.”  Imagine someone saying, “I know I’m a racist but at least I don’t murder people!” That’s not faith that works! You can’t be a thoughtless jerk just because you donate a lot to charity.

Show people the understanding you want them to show you. See yourself in others.

REFLECT
How can you train yourself to see yourself in others?

PRAY
Lord, help me to see my neighbor. Help me to love my neighbor. Help me to see myself in my neighbor. Amen.