I was driving into work today and I got slapped...right upside my head!

I couldn't believe it! I have made it part of my daily routine to listen to a sermon podcast (I love John Piper's Desiring God or John Eldredge's Randsomed Heart) OR I listen to the Bible. I have caught up on all of the sermons this week, so I put on the Bible and started listening to James. I love the book of James...very practical and right to the heart of the matter.

So I am driving, with all of the other Easley crazies, and listening to the Bible...and waiting for God to gently impress something on my heart. I get to James 2:12-13 and I am struck with the phrase:

"Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time."

I let that phrase resonate in my heart for a moment while I am at the light, while I am looking around at all of the people near me. Let me take you through my thought process (which happened in a blink!)

"Where are they going today? Look at that son..hating life because his mom has to drive him to school. Kind mercy WINS over harsh judgment every time. What is wrong with this jerk behind me? Doesn't he know I can't move? The light is red. Good its' green...go around. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time. Yeah I know about harsh judgment. Dude you need to go....there you go. Go around. Now get beside me and let me give you some harsh judgment (which I did in the way of a hand gesture and a few choice words). Ok good...back to God.....KIND MERCY..."

And then God slapped me right across the head. Faith without works is dead. If we simply talk about the things of God and never let them permeate our lives...it means nothing. I wasn't letting the word permeate my life while I was thinking those thoughts about my fellow driver...and when I acted in a manner that was opposite of what God requires of me, as His child.

To do justly. To love mercy. To walk humbly with God.

It is kind mercy that wins every time...not harsh judgment.

For the driver that received a "dose of my harsh judgment" today...I apologize and hope you have an amazing day!