JAMES 2:1-13
Favoritism is is not fitting attire for followers of Jesus.
If our receptivity to those who appear to have money and influence is greater
than our openness to those who are poor,
if our way of relating is preferential or discriminating,
then we have set yourselves up as judges of others.
And it is evidence that we are not living by the law of love
and that is sin.
Do we not see those of humble circumstance but rich in faith
as heirs of the kingdom with all that love God?
Do we not see that the rich in terms of this world's wealth and influence
are really controlling us, using us to their advantage?
We need to look hard at how we are relating to others:
Are we loving others as Christ loved, unconditionally?
Do we look only at what is visible,
or do we see all as valued and having something to contribute to the whole?
What is more influential in determining how we relate ~
our needs or the needs of the other?
Favoritism is sin and when we are influenced by the external
we stand condemned,
for unless we keep the whole law perfectly,
we are a lawbreaker.
Know that we will all be judged as we judge.
Do we want judgment without mercy?
To receive mercy, we need to be merciful.
The law of divine love dictates that mercy
needs to win out over judgment in our relationships.
Prayer:
God, we are a people who find ourselves divided within ourselves.
Help us to see ourselves as you see us, so often reacting to external factors
rather than responding to others as Jesus did,
seeing their God-given value,
recognizing and addressing their underlying needs,
acknowledging and affirming their God-granted giftings.
We so often judge and relate without mercy.
Help us to be mindful that we are all transgressors of Your law
and we have need of Your mercy.
Yes, help us to give to others
what we've experienced in relationship with You!
* * * * * * * *
JAMES 2:14-26
Our tongue and our hands are part of the same body.
When we say one thing and do something different,
it is evidence of a divided heart.
Unless what we say and what we do is consistent,
others are right to question the validity of what we say!
We can not divorce our profession of faith from what we do.
Abraham's faith in God
was followed by his preparation to offer Isaac on the altar,
as directed by God.
His action, consistent with his belief,
was evidence of genuine faith, and he was called God's friend.
Likewise,
Rahab's faith led her to provide lodging and an escape route for the spies,
and secured her salvation when Jericho was destroyed.
What we do brings our faith to life and into the light!
Prayer:
Jesus said that a house divided against itself cannot stand
and we know that our faith, without actions that show it to be genuine,
will acknowledge a divided heart.
God, grant us singularity of heart, tongue and hand!
Twila Charles Leichty
January 26, 2010
Favoritism is is not fitting attire for followers of Jesus.
If our receptivity to those who appear to have money and influence is greater
than our openness to those who are poor,
if our way of relating is preferential or discriminating,
then we have set yourselves up as judges of others.
And it is evidence that we are not living by the law of love
and that is sin.
Do we not see those of humble circumstance but rich in faith
as heirs of the kingdom with all that love God?
Do we not see that the rich in terms of this world's wealth and influence
are really controlling us, using us to their advantage?
We need to look hard at how we are relating to others:
Are we loving others as Christ loved, unconditionally?
Do we look only at what is visible,
or do we see all as valued and having something to contribute to the whole?
What is more influential in determining how we relate ~
our needs or the needs of the other?
Favoritism is sin and when we are influenced by the external
we stand condemned,
for unless we keep the whole law perfectly,
we are a lawbreaker.
Know that we will all be judged as we judge.
Do we want judgment without mercy?
To receive mercy, we need to be merciful.
The law of divine love dictates that mercy
needs to win out over judgment in our relationships.
Prayer:
God, we are a people who find ourselves divided within ourselves.
Help us to see ourselves as you see us, so often reacting to external factors
rather than responding to others as Jesus did,
seeing their God-given value,
recognizing and addressing their underlying needs,
acknowledging and affirming their God-granted giftings.
We so often judge and relate without mercy.
Help us to be mindful that we are all transgressors of Your law
and we have need of Your mercy.
Yes, help us to give to others
what we've experienced in relationship with You!
* * * * * * * *
JAMES 2:14-26
Our tongue and our hands are part of the same body.
When we say one thing and do something different,
it is evidence of a divided heart.
Unless what we say and what we do is consistent,
others are right to question the validity of what we say!
We can not divorce our profession of faith from what we do.
Abraham's faith in God
was followed by his preparation to offer Isaac on the altar,
as directed by God.
His action, consistent with his belief,
was evidence of genuine faith, and he was called God's friend.
Likewise,
Rahab's faith led her to provide lodging and an escape route for the spies,
and secured her salvation when Jericho was destroyed.
What we do brings our faith to life and into the light!
Prayer:
Jesus said that a house divided against itself cannot stand
and we know that our faith, without actions that show it to be genuine,
will acknowledge a divided heart.
God, grant us singularity of heart, tongue and hand!
Twila Charles Leichty
January 26, 2010
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