Treat the Poor and Rich Impartially

Discipleship and Mission

Call to Discipleship

Called to Humility and Hospitality

James 2:1-7 The Message

The Royal Rule of Love

2 1-4 My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, “Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!” and either ignore the street person or say, “Better sit here in the back row,” haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved that you are judges who can’t be trusted?
5-7 Listen, dear friends. Isn’t it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world’s down-and-out as the kingdom’s first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. And here you are abusing these same citizens! Isn’t it the high and mighty who exploit you, who use the courts to rob you blind? Aren’t they the ones who scorn the new name—“Christian”—used in your baptisms?

For Reflection

Yes, we are chosen by God.  Yes, we are set apart by our faith. Yes, we see our world in a different way than many others who do not accept God's will. Yes, we are called to spread the gospel and witness to the promise of God. But these things give us no right to elevate ourselves above others.  Being a child of God does not entitle us to boast.

Becoming a disciple of Christ means we make the best interest of others our first interest.  We honor God with our humility and our reverence for the sanctity of each human soul.

Pray

Pray so that you may walk humbly with God.

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