– Scripture:
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? 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? You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: “Love others as you love yourself.” But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. You can’t pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God’s law and ignoring others. The same God who said, “Don’t commit adultery,” also said, “Don’t murder.” If you don’t commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? No, you’re a murderer, period. Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.
James 2:1–13 (MSG):
– Reflection:
The Royal Rule of Love
God has chosen the most meak people in history to tell his story. We do our best work when we complete the royal rule of love, which says we are to love one another as we love ourselves. The times when we go against this train of thought are where most of our problems come into play. Working in care/love gives us the complete direction for what is expected of us. Placing a person or goal in front of the work imprinted on our hearts from birth slaps GOD in the face and says that what we want is more important than what we were created for.
Where do we go from here?
Start small. I have said it several times before: Trying to take on a large project in the beginning will not work. Your focus and heart will not be in it for the duration of the work. Honoring the work must be done at all times, even when you don’t feel as if you are making any headway. So here is what I did first: I am a part of a men’s chat group, and we do a lot of different tasks at the church. We help people move, paint bedrooms, build fences, or, in my case, pray for someone. For me, this was significant, and I took it as seriously as I should have. Even today, when someone in the group asks for prayer, I step up and send one to them – not a prying hands emoji, but an actual prayer. Find your lane and start to own your place.
Our Prayer for Today
Father, we thank you for the influence you have given each of us. Please allow us to honor you faithfully and continue the work that each of us has within us. Amen.