Morning Devotional 021626 Be Merciful

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

February 16, 2026

James 2:5-13

5 My dear brothers and sisters, listen! Hasn’t God chosen those who are poor by worldly standards to be rich in terms of faith? Hasn’t God chosen the poor as heirs of the kingdom he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the wealthy make life difficult for you? Aren’t they the ones who drag you into court? 7 Aren’t they the ones who insult the good name spoken over you at your baptism? 8 You do well when you really fulfill the royal law found in scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself. 9 But when you show favoritism, you are committing a sin, and by that same law you are exposed as a lawbreaker. 10 Anyone who tries to keep all of the Law but fails at one point is guilty of failing to keep all of it. 11 The one who said, Don’t commit adultery, also said, Don’t commit murder. So if you don’t commit adultery but do commit murder, you are a lawbreaker. 12 In every way, then, speak and act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom. 13 There will be no mercy in judgment for anyone who hasn’t shown mercy. Mercy overrules judgment.

Good Morning! Mercy overrules judgment!

It seems that proclaiming judgment over another is wired into our DNA. This tendency is exacerbated by our uniqueness and diversity. 

Very early in our development, we begin to notice differences among each other. How we sound, look, and smell are a starting place. Babies instinctively recognize their parents using their senses. They haven’t yet learned the words or determined any type of classification system. They just know to whom they belong. 

As we move through childhood, we begin to make decisions about who we are, who we want for friends, and who we don’t like. Think about when you wanted to have the same hairstyle as everyone else in the group that you were a part. Next, think about the ones who chose not to follow the trend and chose a different style. The same scenario could be used to discuss fashion trends. Our education in the application of judgment had begun. Whether you were part of the ingroup or the outcasts, you had an opinion about the ones in the opposite group. 

I recall the cafeteria as being a hotbed of judgment. What you ate, purchased, or brought from home might be the fodder for those trying to exhibit superiority over others. Teenagers can be cruel as they discern with whom they belong. 

How many of our grown-up issues are rooted in judgment of others? O Lord, what a mess we are!  To judge gives us power over others. The judge determines what is and is not acceptable. 

My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore, judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time, each will receive their praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:4-5

While I believe I am serving faithfully, ultimately it is the Lord who will judge the quality of my faithfulness. And if I am not really qualified to judge myself, how much less am I qualified to judge the faithfulness of other believers. Let’s show grace and mercy to each other. And leave judgment in the Lord’s hands.

God of Wisdom, you bless us abundantly! We place ourselves in authority over others when we begin to judge them. Help us in our struggle to humble ourselves as we love one another. Thank you. We love you. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Thought for the day: Praise the God of love and mercy.

O Lord, have mercy on us, your arrogant children! Pastor Liz