James, in chapter two, continues to get all up in our business. He continues to warn us about the dangers of showing partiality. He says that God will show His spiritual riches to the poor, but we so often dishonor them by how we treat them. This is a constant refrain from James and all across the Bible. Then he calls us to obey the royal law – love your neighbor. We are legalistic about so many things. But what if we were legalistic about love? What if love was the non-negotiable for us? What would things look like? What if we focused on keeping the royal law?

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Good morning! It’s great to be with you on this Monday as we continue in James. I hope you had a restful weekend. Today, we’re diving into James 2:1-13, where James addresses favoritism and the sin of partiality.

James reminds us that wealth and status should not determine how we treat people. If we favor the rich while dishonoring the poor, we have missed the heart of the gospel. God values faith, not worldly status, and He calls us to do the same.

Verse 8 is a powerful reminder: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If we’re going to be strict about anything in our faith, let it be love. Yet too often, love is the first thing we discard when it doesn’t align with our preferences. James challenges us—if we claim to follow Christ, we must let love lead.

He also warns us about judgment and mercy. He writes, “For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” If we expect mercy from God, we must extend it to others. Are we quick to judge but slow to forgive? Do we plead for grace while withholding it from others?

James doesn’t hold back—he calls us to live out our faith in tangible ways. So today, let’s check our hearts. Are we valuing people as God does? Are we being legalistic about love? And are we leading with mercy?

Tomorrow, James takes us deeper into faith and works. Get ready! Have a great Monday, and see you then.