James
Favoritism
Be like Jesus, full of grace and truth so you can display love to all
Yes, you will have favorites, family, friends, and neighbors
But if you are full of grace and truth
You will have the ability to show love to all, even the stranger
Even to the person who does not “fear him and do what is right” Acts 10:34-35
In hopes they too will find the reason to “fear him and do what is right”
We live in a time when favoritism and discrimination are crying out in the streets
The message is not “fear him and do what is right”
The message is hate and do what is wrong
It is evil to judge people by the surface of what you see
Whether it is riches, nationality or any other surface view
James says
Have you … become judges with evil thoughts?
Judging with evil thoughts is wrong no matter who you are
Don’t accept the message of hate and wrong
Uphold “fear him and do what is right”
This is the only way any of us will find favor in the eyes of the Lord
Favoritism
Let’s be honest we all have favorites.
You and I can’t help but have favorites.
What is your favorite ice-cream flavor?
What is your least favorite ice-cream?
Are you a bad person because
you have a favorite ice-cream?
NO, of course not.
So we all have favorites.
I have family, I have friends, I have neighbors,
and I have strangers in my life like you do.
There is a difference between favorite and favoritism.
A favorite is our preference for, it is favor or grace.
Although God is no respecter of
persons, He gives more grace to some.
Take a look at Peter’s words in Acts 10:34-35…
Then Peter began to speak:
"I now realize how true it is that God does
not show favoritism but accepts men from every
nation who fear him and do what is right.
When God created Adam and Eve,
He was looking for them to…
“Fear him and do what is right.”
As the human race grew and nations were formed
God was still looking for those who would…
“Fear him and do what is right.”
There were those who did
fear him and do what is right
and those who did not.
One man stood out more than
others and his name was Abraham.
Abraham feared him and did what is right.
God blessed Abraham more than
others and blessed him as a nation.
It was never God’s intention to discriminate
others as he told Abraham he would make
his descendants as numerous as the stars…
And through your offspring all
nations on earth will be blessed,
because you have obeyed me."
Genesis 22:17
Although we see God’s favor on Abraham
and his descendants who…
“Feared him and did what is right.”
John Chapter 1 tells us Jesus…
The true light that gives light to every
man was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and though the world was made through him,
the world did not recognize him.
John 1:9-11
Jesus came into the world with…
“No respecter of persons”.
He came to give light.
He came
“full of grace and truth”
to give anyone who
“fears him and do what is right.”
At the end of Jesus’ earthy ministry,
He gave a command to all who
“fear him and do what is right”.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations
Matthew 28:19
It has never been or ever will be
God’s will that any should perish.
2 Peter 3:9
God does not discriminate based
on nationality or color of skin.
He loves the World and gave Himself for it.
So let’s look at the meaning of Favoritism…
It means “respect of persons”.
Coming from the appearance,
countenance, face, surface.
James is saying don’t show respect or favor
based on the surface, the appearance of a person.
Be like Jesus full of grace and truth
so you can display love to all.
Yes, you will have favorites,
family, friends, and neighbors.
But if you are full of grace and truth,
you will have the ability to show
love to all even the stranger.
Even to the person who does not
“fear him and do what is right”.
In hopes they too will find the reason
to “fear him and do what is right”.
We live in a time when favoritism and
discrimination are crying out in the streets.
The message is not…
“Fear him and do what is right.”
The message is hate and do what is wrong.
It is evil to judge people by the surface
of what you see whether it is riches,
nationality or any other surface view.
James says…
Have you … become judges with evil thoughts?
Judging with evil thoughts is
wrong no matter who you are.
Don’t accept the message of hate and wrong.
Uphold “fear him and do what is right”.
This is the only way any of us will
find favor in the eyes of the Lord.
Scripture Reading
James 2:1-4 NIV
2:1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
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