2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If 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," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
One way this passage plays out for me right now is in all the "belt tightening" at work. I'm in a department that makes money and is not being considered for cuts, but some of my co-workers are on the chopping block.
It's so tempting to say, "Oh, we were smart for developing money-making programs. We're in with the administration. Forget about those poor schmucks who are about to lose their jobs!"
But James convicts me on this one. Those are evil thoughts. Who am I to judge? If I don't offer compassion and help to my struggling co-workers, I'm not being a true Christian. Faith without works IS dead.
Judging a book by it's cover, stereotyping, comparing wealth status - all of these things are very easy to do in today's society. So much emphasis is placed on having a good well paying job, big house, new cars - it becomes natural to want to gravitate to these people. We have to fight that flesh desire, and look for the heart of people. This, I confess, is not easy to do.
I often wonder if Jesus and his disciples walked into our church, how many people would befriend them, and love them, despite their different appearance. I would like to think the majority would, but I also believe the majority (myself included) would have to push away our first visual impression/judgement of them.
I want the eyes of Jesus. To see people as God sees them. ALL created by Him, ALL equally valued by Him, and wanting ALL to have a personal relationship with Him.
verse 17, "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
I want to have a very strong faith that is rooted in my relationship with God through Jesus. The action that I want to live out of that faith is the bearing of fruit - fruit of the spirit. I want to be more and more like Jesus, that means that I must have faith in Him first and then begin to see the fruit of that faith as real life decisions being made to move toward Jesus in every aspect of my life.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
The Law that gives freedom is not the ten commandments, but the Law of the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-3 - Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did:
We are not being condemned for what we did. God already forgave us. He knew ahead of time, what we would do. He has faith that we'll do the right thing, but when we stumble he is there to pick us right back up. We are to listen to Christ Jesus, who is in us. When we get the "am I doing the right thing" feeling, it is Christ trying to lead us the right way. It is up to you, do you want to step off the path and into the mud and make your life more difficult ? Or do you want to continue on the easier path bringing Glory to God.
Lord, help us to know your ways more. Help us to discern our thinking. Help us to be more patient and to wait for your direction instead of pushing past saying I can do it my way. Your way is the only way Lord. You give us the strength to hold steadfast and the courage to perservere. Help us show reverence and respect and love toward others. We want to be more like you Lord, the one who spent most of your time with the underdogs, the ones that were not loved. Help us in everthing we do so that we might Glorify you now, and forevermore. Thru your mighty name we pray. Amen.
I just finished my James 2 reading and I selected verse 24. I will keep this short, but basically I don't want to be a hypocritical Christian. I want to "walk the talk." It is so easy for us to profess our faith at convenient times, but can we profess it when it is necessary and/or inconvenient, uncomfortable even?
Charter Oak Church is a family of Jesus followers who want to reach out to those who are searching and equip believers to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.
2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If 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," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
ReplyDeleteOne way this passage plays out for me right now is in all the "belt tightening" at work. I'm in a department that makes money and is not being considered for cuts, but some of my co-workers are on the chopping block.
It's so tempting to say, "Oh, we were smart for developing money-making programs. We're in with the administration. Forget about those poor schmucks who are about to lose their jobs!"
But James convicts me on this one. Those are evil thoughts. Who am I to judge? If I don't offer compassion and help to my struggling co-workers, I'm not being a true Christian. Faith without works IS dead.
Verse 1 - "don't show favoritism"
ReplyDeleteJudging a book by it's cover, stereotyping, comparing wealth status - all of these things are very easy to do in today's society. So much emphasis is placed on having a good well paying job, big house, new cars - it becomes natural to want to gravitate to these people. We have to fight that flesh desire, and look for the heart of people. This, I confess, is not easy to do.
I often wonder if Jesus and his disciples walked into our church, how many people would befriend them, and love them, despite their different appearance. I would like to think the majority would, but I also believe the majority (myself included) would have to push away our first visual impression/judgement of them.
I want the eyes of Jesus. To see people as God sees them. ALL created by Him, ALL equally valued by Him, and wanting ALL to have a personal relationship with Him.
verse 17, "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
ReplyDeleteI want to have a very strong faith that is rooted in my relationship with God through Jesus. The action that I want to live out of that faith is the bearing of fruit - fruit of the spirit. I want to be more and more like Jesus, that means that I must have faith in Him first and then begin to see the fruit of that faith as real life decisions being made to move toward Jesus in every aspect of my life.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
ReplyDeleteThe Law that gives freedom is not the ten commandments, but the Law of the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-3 - Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did:
We are not being condemned for what we did. God already forgave us. He knew ahead of time, what we would do. He has faith that we'll do the right thing, but when we stumble he is there to pick us right back up. We are to listen to Christ Jesus, who is in us. When we get the "am I doing the right thing" feeling, it is Christ trying to lead us the right way. It is up to you, do you want to step off the path and into the mud and make your life more difficult ? Or do you want to continue on the easier path bringing Glory to God.
Lord, help us to know your ways more. Help us to discern our thinking. Help us to be more patient and to wait for your direction instead of pushing past saying I can do it my way. Your way is the only way Lord. You give us the strength to hold steadfast and the courage to perservere. Help us show reverence and respect and love toward others. We want to be more like you Lord, the one who spent most of your time with the underdogs, the ones that were not loved. Help us in everthing we do so that we might Glorify you now, and forevermore. Thru your mighty name we pray. Amen.
I just finished my James 2 reading and I selected verse 24. I will keep this short, but basically I don't want to be a hypocritical Christian. I want to "walk the talk." It is so easy for us to profess our faith at convenient times, but can we profess it when it is necessary and/or inconvenient, uncomfortable even?
ReplyDelete