Git Along, Little Dogies

(Mercy Rides Point and Grace Brings Us Home)

James 2:1–13

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Introduction – Singing on the Trail

There’s an old cowboy trail song with a toe-tapping refrain:

> “Git along, little dogies, git along, git along…

For you know Wyoming will be your new home.”

Cowboys sang it to keep a restless herd moving together across miles of open range.

It wasn’t just about cattle—it was about getting everyone safely home.

James 2 calls us to a similar journey.

In Christ’s family we’re a big, sometimes unruly herd heading for heaven, and the Lord is riding point, calling us to git along—to live in mercy, to love without favoritism, and to stay on the trail of grace together.

Today’s message is titled:

> Git Along, Little Dogies—Mercy Rides Point and Grace Brings Us Home.

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I. Living Faith Creates a Family That Gets Along

God loves to gather people who are different—old and young, rich and poor, loud and quiet—into one family.

That’s what little Meg captured at Thanksgiving when she exclaimed,

> “Dad, it’s great! We’re having a wonderful time of familyship!”

Familyship is exactly what the church is meant to be.

It’s joyful, but not always easy.

Why? Because familyship involves people—people with rough edges, different ideas, and occasional bad days.

We can’t simply avoid the hard ones or stick only with those we like.

Even the best marriages don’t coast forever in honeymoon gear.

The call is to love beyond preference and let Jesus change us when friction comes.

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II. Faith and Favoritism Cannot Ride Together

James speaks plainly:

> “My brothers, do not hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality” (v. 1).

In other words, faith and favoritism don’t share a saddle.

Saving faith always produces good works, and the first of those works is how we treat people.

When we play favorites—welcoming the rich man to the best seat and telling the poor man to stand aside—we deny the very gospel we claim to believe.

Jesus said,

> “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

Living faith proves itself by inclusive love, not by polished words.

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III. Favoritism Reveals a Heart Problem

James presses deeper:

> “Have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?” (v. 4)

Favoritism signals three spiritual failures.

1. A Judgmental Spirit – Like Samuel choosing Jesse’s sons, we judge by appearance, but God looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7).

2. Self-Serving Motives – We may think, What can this person do for me? when the gospel asks, What can I do for them?

3. Earthly Perspective – We miss God’s value system.

> “Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith?” (v. 5)

Think of the kiwi fruit—brown and fuzzy on the outside, vibrant and sweet within.

People are like that.

Differences are only skin deep; inside is the beauty Christ died to redeem.

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IV. Living Faith Favors People with Love and Mercy

James then gives the positive call:

> “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right” (v. 8).

“Mercy triumphs over judgment” (v. 13).

A. Love in Action

Biblical love is more than sentiment; it is practical care.

It looks around and asks, Who needs encouragement? Who needs help?

Then it moves toward them, even if they are not “our type.”

B. Mercy that Triumphs

What about those who hurt or misunderstand us?

James says mercy must win.

And mercy is possible because Christ first showed mercy to us—leaving heaven’s glory to sit in the lowest seat for our sake.

If He did not say, “They aren’t My type,” how can we?

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V. Seeing with God’s Eyes

The Holy Spirit delights to change how we see people:

to love what God loves, grieve over what grieves Him, and rejoice in what brings Him joy.

That means:

Refusing to hide anyone in the “dark alcove” of our hearts.

Seeking out those who cannot repay us.

Valuing the inner treasure God sees.

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Conclusion – The Trail Home

Like cowboys singing under wide Western skies, God calls His church:

> Git along, little dogies—mercy rides point and grace brings us home.

Repent of favoritism.

Reject judgmental motives.

See people as God sees them.

And favor every kind of person with love and mercy.

Imagine a congregation where every newcomer feels instantly at home,

where mercy, not judgment, sets the rhythm of our days.

That is the music of God’s family on the trail to glory.

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Closing Appeal & Prayer

Who is one person you’ve kept at a distance—at work, at church, in your neighborhood?

Ask the Lord right now for grace to move toward them this week with love and mercy.