But
If You Favor
Some
People Over Others,
You
Are Committing A Sin.
Scripture
James
2
8 Yes
indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the
Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
9 But
if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You
are guilty of breaking the law.
Observation
The
problem of discrimination and prejudice sure didn't originate in the
USA! In fact, in every country that I have spent time in it is
prevalent.
It
also didn't just start in today's church either because evidently it
was a problem and a challenge for Christians when church got its
first start!
James,
the brother of Jesus, warns us that when we favor some people over
others, we are committing a sin!
You
and I are called to love people – all people, even people that
don't look like us, don't talk like us, don't dress like us, and
maybe even don't smell like us!
If
we are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ ... we are called to love
people – period, all of them! We don't get to pick and choose!
Jesus
loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and
yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.
Rich
or poor, black or white, all of us are precious in His sight!
John
4:9-10
The
woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with
Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan
woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”
Jesus
replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who
you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living
water.”
Matthew
8:3
Jesus
reached out and touched him.
“I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the
leprosy disappeared.
Luke
19:2,5
There
was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector
in the region, and he had become very rich. … When
Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and
called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I
must be a guest in your home today.”
Application
I
will look for and reach out to the marginalized, to those who I think
need extra attention. How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly
Father, I have to admit that it is easier sometimes for me to avoid
people that are different than me. Help me to love people like you
love them. Give me Your heart for them. Don't let me ever make
excuses for discrimination or prejudice when those two things raise
their ugly heads.
Daily
Bible Reading: Isaiah 32,33,34,35; James 2
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