I want to welcome you here this morning, so glad that you're here. Also those of you joining us online.

And we're going through verse by verse, the book of James. Today's text is chapter 2, verses 10 through 13.

So if you're already there, I'll ask you to stand if you're able, if not, where you're seated is fine.

You can follow along as I read the text.

James, by the Holy Spirit, continues, verse 10, and says,

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty

of breaking all of it. 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.

Speak in act, verse 12. As those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom

because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.

Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Let's pray if you would please join with me.

Father in heaven, we have before us a passage of scripture that rises to the level of needing the Holy Spirit

to give us eyes of understanding to see that which you desire to show to us today.

Lord, every word is in your word for a reason. Sometimes it's for correction and exhortation,

sometimes for encouragement, but other times for rebuke. And certainly this would seem to be

one of those passages. And that's why we need for the Holy Spirit to be our

teacher and our guide today. Lord, the Holy Spirit has to get our attention and hold our attention,

that's not up to me, so that we don't miss anything that you desire to minister to us in this text that we have

before us today. So Lord, we commit our time together in your word to you, and we thank you

in advance for what you're going to do in Jesus' name Amen and amen. You can be seated. Thank you.

So I want to talk with you today about mercy and the importance of being merciful to others.

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