Daily Bible Reading Plans to help you read and understand God’s Word

Scripture Reading: James 2:8-13, Leviticus 19:15-18, Matthew 22:34-40, Romans 13:8-10

We all want to know where we stand in life. We need to see whether or not we are measuring up to a standard we’ve set for ourselves. Through the stages of our lives, the yardsticks change, but the desire for progress remains.

For students, report cards provide a standard for measuring our performance. For adults in the workplace, it can be an annual review. For many, scratching an item off their to-do lists brings a smile to their faces as another goal is accomplished. For others, moving a bookmark to another page represents progress.  

Those work great in the physical world. In the context of what we can see and hear and touch, tangible goals make a huge difference. But what about the spiritual world? What’s a reliable mile marker for growth in a realm that’s beyond our normal vision? It’s a fair question, and James had a reasonable answer.

As Christ followers, we know we are on track when we love others well. In fact, James didn’t just offer loving our neighbor as a suggestion or a self-help discipline. He referred to it as a law—a “royal law” established by the King of kings and Lord of lords. That means God takes loving others seriously, and we should as well.

Of course, this was not a new concept for believers. During His earthly ministry, Jesus had been asked about the greatest law. In response, He gave a twin answer: Love God and love others (Matthew 22:34–40). Even that wasn’t a radical response because He was simply quoting the standard God had established already in the law of Moses (Leviticus 19:15–18). Love has always been a part of God’s plan for His people. It’s always been a measuring stick for spiritual growth.

Admittedly, it’s a lot easier to say we love others than to actually put it into practice. Some people are just really hard to love. And if we’re honest, some people find us really hard to love. Sin has wreaked havoc on our lives and on our ability to love the way we should. That’s why we need to look to the King if we’re going to honor the royal law well.

Jesus didn’t just talk about loving others. He did it better than anyone else ever had or ever would. He set out the welcome mat for the “sinners” who were on the outside looking in. He healed the stick, showing them God’s glory. And even His enemies weren’t beyond His compassionate reach.

Then, in an “end” that really served as a beginning, He demonstrated His profound and illogical love by dying for our sins. The King lived out the royal law to perfection, and we can learn a lot from following His example. 

So if you want to know if you’re “doing well” in the Christian life (James 2:8), examine the way you’re loving your neighbors each and every day. And if you find too many gaps in your love life, let your King show you how it’s done.

Written by Bob Bunn