verseoftheday

For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in... James 2:2 ESV James hooks into us next for judging on the externals. The clothing. Labels (or maybe it's no labels now...) The body. Appropriately sculpted. The speech. Confident. Outgoing. The list goes on... Age (too old, past it) The list goes on... We have a lifetime of judging the externals, and James is saying just hang on a sec, why are we doing that in church? Is this the stuff that's important? Take a step back and remember that God's Kingdom doesn't run on the rules of the world, of our culture, and neither should our church...and neither should we. Love people for who they are. Image bearers of the Creator. #james #james2 #Godsgym #nolabels #lovepeople

My fellow believers, do not practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of partiality [toward people - show no favoritism, no prejudice, no snobbery]. James 2:1 AMP Monday morning and it's back to the gym! James is clear that this is about how we are living out our faith in Jesus. Jesus crossed over all the social and ethnic barriers of his day. He met with the (hated) tax collector. He met with the (unclean) Samaritans He met the (untouchable) leper He talked with the kids, had someone look out for his Mum. In Jesus kingdom, the social, ethnic, age, gender, social status, occupation, boundaries and labels that I so easily fall into the habit of using - they simply don't belong. People have names. I'm trying hard to remember names but the labels seem to stick so much easier. "Jesus, help me to see people as you do. Thanks. Amen" #james #james2 #Godsgym #nolabels #lovepeople