Wednesday – June 22nd – James 2:6-7 ------
2:6) But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?
7) Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
The Daily Walk Bible inspirational thought for today:
NO GREATER INJURY CAN BE INFLICTED UPON SOMEONE THAN TO WOUND HIS OR HER REPUTATION.*
Welcome to Wednesday! What a great first two days at SunRise VBS. Kids, youth, and adults are learning about God’s monumental love! Our inspirational thought for today is a strong reminder of how we, as followers of Jesus, are to treat each other. From God’s perspective all sins are equal – as every sin has the ultimate effect of creating separation between ourselves and God. We humans (encouraged by Satan) tend to want to classify or rank sins from least to worst. Somehow in that human ordering we place gossip at the lowest rung of sinfulness. Yet, as our inspirational thought suggests even gossip can inflect great pain on someone else. As a follower of Jesus, we need to rise above the temptation to talk about others. Nothing good ever comes from spreading rumors or sharing gossip.
In our pick verses today, James connects the reality that our showing partiality in fact is a direct reflection on our relationship with God. If we show partiality to the rich over the poor, then we have ended up discrediting both parties. James’ readers had dishonored the poor because the failed to treat them as God would treat them. When treating the poor without honor we elevate ourselves to the same level as the rich, which James quickly points out that they are often guilty of oppressing the poor and abusing the name of Jesus. If we choose to treat all people with the same level of respect, we then remove ourselves from the cultural desire to falsely elevate our own status and worth. Jesus came to save all people – rich and poor, free and slave, Jew and gentile. Jesus treated all of us the same so we could all become part of the family of God.
Blessings
Pastor Jim
Thursday – June 23rd – James 2:8-9
*Tyndale. The Daily Walk Bible NLT (Kindle Location 32301). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
2:6) But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?
7) Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
The Daily Walk Bible inspirational thought for today:
NO GREATER INJURY CAN BE INFLICTED UPON SOMEONE THAN TO WOUND HIS OR HER REPUTATION.*
Welcome to Wednesday! What a great first two days at SunRise VBS. Kids, youth, and adults are learning about God’s monumental love! Our inspirational thought for today is a strong reminder of how we, as followers of Jesus, are to treat each other. From God’s perspective all sins are equal – as every sin has the ultimate effect of creating separation between ourselves and God. We humans (encouraged by Satan) tend to want to classify or rank sins from least to worst. Somehow in that human ordering we place gossip at the lowest rung of sinfulness. Yet, as our inspirational thought suggests even gossip can inflect great pain on someone else. As a follower of Jesus, we need to rise above the temptation to talk about others. Nothing good ever comes from spreading rumors or sharing gossip.
In our pick verses today, James connects the reality that our showing partiality in fact is a direct reflection on our relationship with God. If we show partiality to the rich over the poor, then we have ended up discrediting both parties. James’ readers had dishonored the poor because the failed to treat them as God would treat them. When treating the poor without honor we elevate ourselves to the same level as the rich, which James quickly points out that they are often guilty of oppressing the poor and abusing the name of Jesus. If we choose to treat all people with the same level of respect, we then remove ourselves from the cultural desire to falsely elevate our own status and worth. Jesus came to save all people – rich and poor, free and slave, Jew and gentile. Jesus treated all of us the same so we could all become part of the family of God.
Blessings
Pastor Jim
Thursday – June 23rd – James 2:8-9
*Tyndale. The Daily Walk Bible NLT (Kindle Location 32301). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
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