Devotionals for September 12, 2023
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READ
James 2:1-9
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers
REFLECT
James offers blunt, hard-hitting wisdom. It takes intentional reaching out and befriending those who may sit or stand alone in our Christian circles. It’s easy to say, “They can join our friend circle any time.” In reality, though, it’s hard for someone on the outside to come close unless welcomed in. As Christians, we are called to hospitality, unity, serving, laying down our lives, and caring for others. The common wisdom of our culture says to turn inwards and favor our immediate circles or to cast our eyes upwards to influencers and those with popular positions. But the way of Jesus is different. He calls biased behavior and favoritism a sin, especially in the context of the family of God. He call us to love outwards from ourselves. He calls us to embrace. One of our core values at TNLC is to not just be a friendly church, but a sticky church. It’s a great reminder to look for those who need to stick with the family of God.
APPLY
Q: Why does James bring up the rich and the poor when discussing favoritism?
Q: Commit to pray and ask God how you have shown favoritism. How can you embrace and welcome others today, especially those who are different from you?
Q: Why does the effectiveness of the Gospel we preach also depend on how we live our lives and treat others?
Q: Commit to pray and ask God how you have shown favoritism. How can you embrace and welcome others today, especially those who are different from you?
Q: Why does the effectiveness of the Gospel we preach also depend on how we live our lives and treat others?
SING
PRAY
"May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."
Lord, thank you for making your will plain and understandable through your Word. Thank you for showing your will through the Word of life, Jesus my Messiah. Help me to contribute to your kingdom today and to embrace others. Your kingdom will be filled with peoples from all nations and languages and backgrounds. Help me to never show favoritism. In your name, Amen.
Lord, thank you for making your will plain and understandable through your Word. Thank you for showing your will through the Word of life, Jesus my Messiah. Help me to contribute to your kingdom today and to embrace others. Your kingdom will be filled with peoples from all nations and languages and backgrounds. Help me to never show favoritism. In your name, Amen.