Daily Bible Study

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Day 2 James 2 James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him who wears the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them who love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he who said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they who shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, who hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believe that there is one God; thou do well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 See thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which said, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Many people look up to those wealthier than they, preferring their friendship to their peers. James told the people they did the same, giving preference to people of wealth while forsaking those who possessed little. He told them they weren’t to do that. Instead, they were to treat all people the same. As Christians, you do the same, looking up to your leaders and putting them in another status worthier than those without leadership roles in the body. Yet, everyone has a place in the body. No one is more important than the other. When you treat everyone the same, you fulfill the law of love. Jesus said people would know you are Christians by your love. You don’t show love when you give preferential treatment to a few and not to all. All are worthy. In the same way, Christians overlook the needs of the poor without thought or regard. Jesus took care of the needs of the people. He fed them, healed them, and raised them from the dead. Faith in Jesus Christ should imitate what Jesus did, feeding and clothing the poor, and showing them the love of Jesus in everything you say and do. Faith without works is dead. You have nothing to show. Talk is cheap. People look at your actions. When you treat everyone the same and take care of the needs of the people, you show Christ’s love and fulfill the law of love. It’s time to put faith in action and treat everyone the same and seeing to their needs. Let’s pray: Father, help me to regard everyone the same. Help me love them and care for them, physically and spiritually. Let people see my love for them in everything I say and do. Let it point to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 9 June 2019 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay