James 2:1

Scripture: James 2:1  

1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.

Observations: 

 Favoritism, partiality, special treatment, bias... when we do this, we are saying we love one person more than another simply because of what they have/look like. God loves us all the same, whether we are dirty, broken, young, old, rich, poor, righteous, unrighteous. He LOVES us regardless, and we should love others because of our GLORIOUS Lord Jesus Christ!

 

Application: 

 I think a humbling experience is to visit with the poor, or visit a jail, or a nursing home (trust me, people view the elderly as useless... it's so sad) and let that equality sink through. God loves us all the same, no matter what. When Christ would eat, He would sit with the outcasts of society. He didn't care how it made Him look. It might be good practice for us to do the same when the opportunities arise.

 

Prayer: 

Lord forgive us for picking favorites. God, it's so much easier to be around people that are like us. Help us to broaden our hearts and see people the way You do, and reach out to them and love them unconditionally. In Christ's name I pray, amen!

James 1:26-27

Scripture: James 1:26-27 

26 If anyone considers himself religious yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

 

Observations: 

Our actions and words can really ruin others' perception of our beliefs. We talked about what it's like at restaurants on Sunday mornings, and how it seems that a lot of Christians are horribly rude, impatient, and bad tippers. It's a noticeable difference from the other shifts. Sunday morning... you just don't make the same tips. What's the point of dressing up and going to church if people just turn around and act that way right afterwards? That's worthless religion to me.

 

Application: 

Verse 27 is our application! Look after orphans and widows, and keep from being polluted! Are we doing that? Are we going out of our way to serve others that are in distress, and also going out of our way to keep from getting polluted? It looks different for different people. We all have different gifts, which we are called to use in ministry. We all have our own "butter heads" that we need to keep away from the fire ;)

 

Prayer: 

Lord, help us to not have a worthless religion. Help us to show through our relationship with You, and that our outward acts are in accordance with our beliefs. God I pray we are good witnesses with our actions. We love You so much and do not want to be bad representations of life with You. Help us to plug into good ministries that use our own particular gifts, and also have the humility and strength to stay away from or fight our specific battles against sin. In Jesus' name I ask, amen!