Tag Archive | neighbor

Judge or Reconciler?

Aug28

Do not complain (groan), brethren, againstone another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing rightat the door.
James 5:9 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.9.NASB1995

Complaining never solves anything. It causes division, grumbling, separation and so much more. Take the matter at hand to the one concerned and attempt reconciliation.

Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; . . . .
James 4:11 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.11.NASB1995

God is the Judge. Not you. Not me.

but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1 Peter 4:5 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.4.5.NASB1995

Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.
1 Corinthians 4:5 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1co.4.5.NASB1995

🌹There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?
James 4:12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.12.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Only One Lawgiver and Judge

Aug19

Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. 
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?
James 4:11-12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.11-12.NASB1995

How easily it comes to us to point the finger, speak against, and judge a person for their words and/or actions without knowing the why of it. We all have been on both sides in this. We say or do something we regret and have been judged for it.

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
Matthew 7:1 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.7.1.NASB1995

Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
James 5:9 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.9.NASB1995

For the Lord is our judge, The Lord is our lawgiver, The Lord is our king; He will save us—
Isaiah 33:22 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.33.22.NASB1995

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
James 1:22 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.22.NASB1995

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
James 2:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.8.NASB1995

🌹If God is our Judge and the Judge of all His Creation, who are we to judge anyone? Especially a brother or sister. We are to love one another in obedience to the royal law.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Showing Mercy

Jul1

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
James 2:8-11 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.8-11.NASB1995

No matter the sin, big or small, sin is a transgression of the Lord’s law.

If we do not love our neighbor – anyone who is not us – we sin.

If we show favoritism to some; looking down on others, we sin.

Abiding by all the laws yet neglecting one, we are transgressors, sinners, of the entire law.

for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.2.10.NASB1995

🌹So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 2:12-13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.12-13.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Grateful for God’s Grace

Mar31

The majority of devotions I’ve written this month, I have written about, “Loving Your Neighbor”, a challenge for anyone.
God has taught me a lot through these “neighbor” verses, making me aware of just how hard hearted I can be sometimes because my neighbors don’t meet my criteria. I am reminded that God loved me so much He sent Jesus to die for me, you, and the world.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.3.16.NASB1995

I am to love my neighbor as Christ loved me. These are the ones I now pray for and I will practice loving my neighbor.

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
James 2:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.8.NASB1995

🌹A good man will obtain favor from the Lord, But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
Proverbs 12:2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.12.2.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Accepted

Mar27

Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.
Romans 15:2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.15.2.NASB1995

This is a humble endeavor.
All people are created by God. Christ died for all people. Acceptance for the glory of God!

🌹Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.
Romans 15:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.15.7.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Law Abiding Love

Mar26

For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying,
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Romans 13:9 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.13.9.NASB1995

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 13:10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.13.10.NASB1995

🌹Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.13.8.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Love Your Neighbors & Enemies

Mar20

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I (Jesus) say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 5:43-44 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.43-44.NASB1995

Love your enemy as you do your neighbor.

so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 5:45 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.45.NASB1995

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
Luke 6:35 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.6.35.NASB1995

🌹Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
Luke 6:31 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.6.31.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Are You a Good Neighbor?

Mar19

He who despises his neighbor sins,
Proverbs 14:21a NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.14.21.NASB1995

Despise: to regard with contempt, distaste, disgust, or disdain; scorn; loathe.
https://Dictionary.com

Is there someone in your life you really hate? Anyone you shun, go out of the way to avoid them? How about the snub – ignoring them, their existence? Aren’t those attitudes loathesome? And yet we are all guilty.

Remember the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37? The Samaritan answered the question Jesus asked him, – “who proved to be a neighbor”, – with “the one who showed mercy.” Jesus then said, “Go and do the same.”

Jesus is our example of how to treat others.

🌹A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words, And the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him.
Proverbs 12:14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.12.14.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Think Before Speaking

Mar18

The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Proverbs 12:26 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.12.26.NASB1995

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
Proverbs 15:28 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.15.28.NASB1995

🌹The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, . . .
Proverbs 10:32a NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.10.32.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Love By Listening

Mar17

He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, But a man of understanding keeps silent (heart).
Proverbs 11:12 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.11.12.NASB1995

This verse reminds me of two famous quotes I heard as I was growing up.

“Don’t judge someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”

And

“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.”

To belittle or despise our neighbor lacks compassion, an attribute of our Lord; and since we don’t truly know how someone responds to life situations, could we just give an understanding, silent ear without sharing our opinion?

🌹Arguments never seem to solve anything. A listening ear can change a heart.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org