We move on today to James 2:
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old 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? 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
James brings us back to the mirror for more self-examination, addressing us as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. What should that do? It should set the tone and the stage for our attitudes and actions; it should move us humbly to our knees before Him. If it truly does, there will be none of this stereotyping or judging of others where in our actions, or even in our hearts and minds we would put someone at our feet - less than us - nor would we compare others to one another as worthy or unworthy of coming into God's presence. On a practical note, James says: "Besides, who is more likely to come back and proudly reject you or Christ?" Take the knee, bow before Christ, and you will see things from a much better perspective.
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