The more we venture into James the more I love it and love him. He is not going to let us off the hook with excuses or rationalizations when it comes to our actions or our attitudes. He challenges us in almost every verse of every chapter to live out Christian principles, those things we say with our mouth we believe but so often don't live out in our actions.
Yesterday we were challenged in the area of favoritism. Eddie started out with the challenge in the form of a question...how many times do we judge on 1st impressions, what we have heard or observed in a shallow way? We are a people quick to rush to a conclusion and form an opinion and then treat people a certain way based on those opinions.
Eddie pointed out how favoritism is inconsistent with Christian principles, with the grace of God and with the Royal Law. We were challenged to see people through the eyes of Jesus whether they are lost and in need of Jesus or saved and have Jesus living in them. I absolutely loved how Eddie closed the message by pointing out that how we treat people says a lot about our faith. Do we really practice what we say we believe? May God give us eyes to see past the externals and see the heart.
A few sidebars from my morning devotion that goes along with this...
...the world's idea of success and God's are very different.
...we want to identify with impressive-looking people because it makes us feel good about ourselves.
...we mistakenly assume that riches are a sign of God's blessing and approval but God doesn't promise us earthly rewards.
Are we easily impressed by status, wealth or fame? Are we partial to the "haves" while ignoring the "have nots"? Take an inward look at how we view celebrities in our culture and who our "heroes" are and that may give us our answers...OUCH!! Thankful for how God's Word convicts and for the grace and mercy that covers us all.
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