Favoritism

"My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism."--James 2:1.  James, telling us not to show favoritism.  Failing to do this is failing to put our faith into practice by loving our neighbor as ourself.  Showing favoritism is failing to fulfill the royal law.

Favoritism.  Be a doer of the word, not just a hearer.  We all know to love God is to obey His commands and also to love others.  Therefore, we can't pick and choose what commands we follow based on personal preference. Christianity is all or nothing.   

Favoritism.  Be a doer of the word, not just a hearer.  Be the same person to everyone.  Don't treat one person any differently than you would treat another.

Favoritism.  Be a doer of the word, not just a hearer.  We can't look on the poor person with disdain and treat the person who is a little wealthier with more respect. The poor could probably teach the wealthy a thing or two of what it really means to follow Christ.

Favoritism.  God doesn't show favoritism.  Ask yourself did Christ pick and choose whom He associated with? The prime example of Jesus not showing favoritism is the fact that he associated with a Samaritan woman in John 4:7-43.  The Samaritans were considered the scum of the Jewish world because they were mixed with Gentile blood.

Favoritism.  Furthermore, did Christ restrict His saving message to Jews only? Of course not! Through primarily the apostle Paul, the gospel message went out to Gentiles.  Reader, that's you and me.

Favoritism.  Allow me for a moment to get on my soapbox.  If there is one thing I can't stand in the Lord's Church, its cliques.  I don't know how many times I have seen someone walk into a church building and no one even takes a moment to go talk to that person maybe because they are a little different or not quite up to par with that person's standards.  When are we going to start thinking about God's standards which are found in the pages of Scripture?  Rather than go talk to this person, these people flock to their own circle of friends.  This person that has walked into YOUR church building might be a lost soul.  This person might be a brother or sister in Christ that is new to your congregation.

Favoritism. Reader, if you are in Christ, remember someone took the time to share the gospel message with you and did not show favoritism.  If you are not in Christ, realize that it is in Christ only that we find spiritual blessings.  In order to respond to the gospel message, we must hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Don't hold this message back with anyone.

Favoritism.  So my encouragement to you is this.  Next Sunday when you show up to church services, make it a point to go up to someone you might not know and take time to get to know them.  Take someone out to lunch you might not be terribly acquainted with.

Favoritism.  Finally, don't just read this devo.  Don't just read the passage in James.  Go out and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! PRAY ABOUT IT! LOVE Y'ALL! GOD BLESS!