God’s mercy prompts us to be merciful.

When my children were squabbling and came to me to tattle on one another, I took each child aside separately to hear their account of the problem. Since both were guilty, at the end of our chat I asked them each what they felt would be an appropriate, fair consequence for their sibling’s actions. Both suggested swift punishment for the other. To their surprise, I instead gave them each the consequence they had intended for their sibling. Suddenly, each child lamented how “unfair” the sentence seemed now that it was visited upon them—despite having deemed it appropriate when it was intended for the other.

我的孩子们在年幼时期，常因争吵而跑来向我告状。我会将他们个别带到一旁，让他们各自说明事情发生的缘由。确定双方都有过错之后，我会在谈话结束时问他们，要怎样才是公平和合理地处置对方的行为，他们都会建议要立即处罚对方。出乎孩子们意料的是，我却用他们自以为对方应得的惩罚来处置他。瞬间，每个孩子都开始哀嚎，因为他们自以为给对方这样的责罚十分公平，但当相同的惩罚方式加在自己身上的时候，却顿时觉得不公平了。

My kids had shown the kind of “judgment without mercy” that God warns against (James 2:13). James reminds us that instead of showing favoritism to the wealthy, or even to one’s self, God desires that we love others as we love ourselves (v. 8). Instead of using others for selfish gain, or disregarding anyone whose position doesn’t benefit us, James instructs us to act as people who know how much we’ve been given and forgiven—and to extend that mercy to others.

我的孩子们所展现的正是上帝所警诫的“无怜悯的审判”（雅各书2章13节）。雅各提醒我们，上帝不要我们偏袒富有的人或自己存有私心，而是期望我们能爱人如己（8节）。雅各教导我们，不应利用他人来谋得个人的利益，也不该因无法从某些人身上受益就因此轻视他们，而是行事为人当与所蒙的怜悯和赦免相称，并以恩慈待人。

God has given generously of His mercy. In all our dealings with others, let’s remember the mercy He’s shown us and extend it to others.

上帝慷慨地赐下怜悯给我们，在我们与他人相处时，应谨记我们从上帝所得的怜悯，而以怜悯的心对待他人。

Dear heavenly Father, 

We are so grateful for the mercy that You show to us every day. 

Help us to show mercy to others as a measure of our gratitude to You.

James 2:1-13 New International Version (NIV)

2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

雅各书 2:1-13

2 我的弟兄们，你们信奉我们荣耀的主耶稣基督，便不可按着外貌待人。 2 若有一个人戴着金戒指、穿着华美衣服进你们的会堂去，又有一个穷人穿着肮脏衣服也进去， 3 你们就看重那穿华美衣服的人，说“请坐在这好位上”，又对那穷人说“你站在那里”或“坐在我脚凳下边”， 4 这岂不是你们偏心待人，用恶意断定人吗？ 5 我亲爱的弟兄们，请听：神岂不是拣选了世上的贫穷人，叫他们在信上富足，并承受他所应许给那些爱他之人的国吗？ 6 你们反倒羞辱贫穷人！那富足人岂不是欺压你们，拉你们到公堂去吗？ 7 他们不是亵渎你们所敬奉[a]的尊名吗？ 8 经上记着说：“要爱人如己。” 你们若全守这至尊的律法，才是好的。 9 但你们若按外貌待人，便是犯罪，被律法定为犯法的。 10 因为凡遵守全律法的，只在一条上跌倒，他就是犯了众条。 11 原来那说“不可奸淫”的，也说“不可杀人”。你就是不奸淫，却杀人，仍是成了犯律法的。12 你们既然要按使人自由的律法受审判，就该照这律法说话行事。 13 因为那不怜悯人的，也要受无怜悯的审判；怜悯原是向审判夸胜。

INSIGHT

Growing up under Roman oppression and the religious legalism of Israel’s rulers, James valued mercy and forgiveness, which was the fruit of his relationship with Christ.

灵粮透视

在雅各的成长过程中，他必须面对罗马政府的逼迫，以及以色列当权者的宗教律法主义，所以他非常看重饶恕和怜悯，这是他信靠基督之后所结的果子。

整理：于姊妹