My Favorite Verses - Vol V (Feb 17 to Jun 17)

James 5:11 … The Purpose of the Lord
(06/04/2017)
“You have seen the Purpose of the Lord;
how He is compassionate and merciful.”
~ James (James 5:11)
“James the Just” (one of Jesus‟ most trusted disciples – see Gospel of Thomas 12)
knew what Jesus knew and preached what Jesus preached – namely, that it was
works steeped in courage that formed the essence of any Faith; that we were not to
engage Good Deeds because we were certain of receiving any reward therefrom,
but rather were to Care for others solely because they were suffering and needed
their burdens eased. And James knew as well that it was this same selflessness of
intention that gave Love both its purity and its Power – healing those to whom it
was given, inspiring those who were blessed to witness it being giving, and
granting access to “the Kingdom of Heaven” to all those humble enough to do that
self-sacrificial Giving (see Matthew 18:3-4, John 13:15-17, Matthew 16:24 et al).
As such, those who wish to
fully comprehend The Way of
Christ would do well to
remember that God is the perfect
enlivenment of a perfect Love
(Matthew 5:48) – a Love that
knows neither fear nor
punishment (1 John 4:18) – a
God of limitless Mercy (Luke
6:36), endless Grace (John 5:22),
and perpetual Forgiveness
(Matthew 18:21-22) … And as
such it is not that God‟s mercy is
his primary Purpose, but rather
that Compassion & Mercy are
His innate characteristics – that
they are in essence His only
Purpose; to bless others with
them “from above” (actually
“from within” – see John 14:20-26)
and to inspire us all from within
to go forth and act accordingly
(see Matthew 5:43-48, Matthew
7:21-24, Matthew 25:35-40 &
Matthew 28:20 et al).
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