by David Brenneman
"My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:1-13.
From a devotional that I am going through: "In this passage James gives a call to integrity and starts out by quoting one of the greatest commandments: to love others as ourselves. The best way to reflect God in our lives is to invite him into everything that we do; meaning we can’t afford to pick and choose which neighbor (co-worker, professor, in-law, sibling, etc) we decide to love as ourselves. The reality is that all of us can probably say that we have done this a time or two."
It was interesting that I read in the book of Mark this very thing being lived out by Jesus. Jesus didn't pick n choose who would receive His grace. He also didn't let the success happening where he was cloud His eternal mission.
In Christ you and I have an eternal mission! We are not to pick n choose which parts we will do or not do. Not to pick n choose who is worthy of God's love and salvation.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God is what my Bible says. From the nicest person we know to the most vile...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
'Clicks' inevitably come about in people groups. We can gravitate towards those who agree with us. Towards those whom we know will make us feel better.
In where I was in the book of Mark, Jesus had spent time alone with His Father, went to the Temple to teach. Demon possessed people came to Him and He silenced them, cast them out. Healed a man with leprosy. Word spread. Most men would have set up shop because of our fictional laws of supply and demand. His Disciples were caught up in the moment, telling Jesus more people were there with more people on the way. Jesus kept His eternal mission. Told them it was time to go, pack up, they were moving out.
Picking and choosing can get us into more trouble than obeying some times. It can be the right thing depending on circumstances, or it's the wrong thing based on other reasons. Being sensitive to the Spirit is where reality is for the Believer.
We most certainly cannot put ourselves in a place of condemnation of others. Deciding who is worthy of the free gift of salvation and who isn't. We are to love God with our everything and love others as ourselves.
We may have some really interesting, intense, people to deal with in the world. They indeed may be drowning in sin. They are, however, made in the image of God. They are breathing. Therefore there is hope for change and a new life in Christ for them.
My Dear Reader, the Bible explicitly says that some have entertained Angels unawares. How would you know if you aren't obeying God?
We are reflecting the light of Jesus Christ to this world. John wrote in the beginning of his book that people loved the darkness rather than the Light for their deeds were evil. Don't you remember how painful it is to be in darkness and someone turns on a bright light?
It's irritating, it hurts, but the most important detail is what is revealed cannot be unseen.
When people are separated by us, we sin by our actions. We do not know who the last person is who will be saved before the Rapture of the Church.
You could be that person who helps lead someone to Christ for salvation and set in motion the final steps leading to the Rapture of Christ's Church!
Likewise, in your disobedience, you could be delaying things by your behavior and lack of interest in the things of God.
We are to obey God with our everything. In our music, in our eating, in our social media, in our public interactions. In our personal life, our relationships with family and friends. In our workplace. In our hobbies. In our thoughts, feelings and actions.
We do not decide who is or isn't worthy. The most evil person we know can still come to Christ should the Spirit so work in them.
King Nebuchadnezzar was one of the most ruthless world leaders ever...yet he came to know the Lord as his God.
When you go through your day, through your thoughts, look for anything that you are thinking or doing that isn't of God. Get rid of what you find.
We all must give an account of our lives before Jesus. Get rid of whatever it is you don't want to be explaining later with Jesus.
We are free in Christ, and are warned not to let that freedom be an excuse to continue down a wrong path.
Pray for your eyes to be opened to the truth about you. Let the light of Jesus Christ reveal the truth and obey Him in your everything.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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