‘For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.
For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law’ (James 2:10-11).
Reading this passage has drawn my attention to the emphasis put on the full law. I think that, for many people like I have done in the past, we categorise sin as ‘great sin’ and ‘small sin’. I used to think a very long time ago that some sins were not as offensive to God as others. Yet the bible reminds us in this portion of the scriptures that all sin is condemned.
In society, we notice the same thing. Certain things raise eyebrows but others go under the carpet. Also, depending on people, some feel bad about maybe what they have lied about or how bad they have talked to a person, others don’t really bother about that. They’re only concerned about sins such a murder.
Our society has normalised certain sins, a work of the devil. Those who want to do what the holy scriptures say are made to feel like outsiders, weirdos. You have to blend in or you might actually be left alone. Some people are rejected for making choices that honour the laws of God.
This passage reminds me of what God told the children of Israel; “be holy as I the Lord your God am holy“. God told them to be holy because they are His people, separated to be Him (Leviticus 19:1, 20:26). God chooses for Himself a people He will separate to be His. The state in which the person is found is not what matters. What the Lord requires of those He has called is to be holy.
To be holy is to be separated, consecrated, to avoid sinful life or living in unrighteousness. When God visited Abraham to confirm His covenant with Him, He first told him to “walk before me and be blameless” (Genesis 17:1). Other Bible versions translated being blameless as being perfect, doing right, having integrity. We get the picture.
God introduced Himself as El-Shaddai, God Almighty to Abraham. This name of God is said to express His all-sufficience, power, and provision. When the God of the universe appears to a man instructing him to be without fault, it tells us that righteousness matters to the great God.
I could say that this was the instruction that would help Abraham to keep God’s covenant as instructed to him. “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come” (Genesis 17:9). Being blameless include obeying the word of the Lord.
We have heard time and time said ‘God will understand’ or we complain that it’s too hard to live a righteous life. God requires holiness from His people. If truly, and this is personal, each person knows that they have been chosen by God then it is each person’s responsibility to work on themselves while relying on the Holy Spirit to help.
At the end of the day, it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6). We are not required to do anything without the grace of God because God’s grace empowers us to be effective in all that we do. I find comfort in the bible verse that tells me that God will give me the grace I need for every good work that I do. In fact, I will just quote it in the version I love “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work “(2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV).
We can’t choose what sins we are leaving behind and the ones we are keeping. The book of James is telling us that this is as good as not keeping the law at all. We do fall short of the glory of God here and there but His mercy is there to catch us. However, we can’t use that as an excuse to not work in honesty on ourselves. God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7). He searches the heart and tries the reins (Jeremiah 17:10). Before a word goes out of our mouths, He knows the intentions (Psalms 139:4). Such great God is not to be taken lightely.
So here we are, are few lines to encourage us all to rely on He who made us and knows what we are all capable of. Always remember this truth: God’s grace is sufficient for you; when you are weak then only you are strong in God because His strength is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). God doesn’t share His glory with anyone, so allow Him to shine His light through you (Isaiah 42:8).
Gracefully,
Kate
GraceFully 