Read: James 2:5-13

As James writes to his Jewish Christian congregation who have been scattered all over the Roman empire, he reminds them of an important experience in their history - exile.

The most important moment in Jewish national history is the Exodus - where God heard the cries of hebrew slaves living under the oppression of the Egytian Pharaoh. After dueling with the Pharaoh, God through Moses won their freedom.

This was God's first attempt at garden rebuilding. He gathered these ex-slaves, gave them a piece of land in Canaan, and gave them his ten core values - half of which have to do with respecting their neighbour's material and relational boundaries. They were to remember what it felt like to be enslaved, and they were never to enslave another.

But in time, they did forget. There started to exploit and oppress each other in just like the Egyptians and other neighbouring countries. After prophet (God's messenger) after prophet warning them to take the initiative to change their ways, God finally decided to discipline them. The consequence of their unjst behavior was Exile: the Jewish people's land was invaded by foreign powers and they were sent away to live as slaves of others. Eventually, they came home. But their sense of being a people was never the same again.

James asks his readers, "why are you showing favoritism to the same people who look down on you because you are poor?" He wanted to know why they have adopted their values and became just like them - walking all over people who don't deserve it.

James says God in his word says he will not show mercy for those who doesn't show mercy to others. People who walk all over others will be walked all over by others.

Write
Think about your faith story: how have you suffered mistreatment by others? How have you experienced God's discipline for mistreatment of others?

What's one value you are struggling to change, a value contrary to God's values?

Who do you know is struggling with a value makeover? How can you support your friend in effort?

Pray
What is God saying to you today?

Talk to God about how your experience of him teaching you his values.

Talk to God about where you are in value transformation. What values you still struggle with, values contrary to God's values.

Pray for your friend who is in the midst of a lesson. Ask God for the wisdom to know how to cheer your friend on.

Pray for a fresh experience of God's love, grace and mercy as he disciplines you for values that you still need to change so you can live the kingdom life.