James 2:1-7

Scripture:

1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

Devotion:

James wrote this letter to Jewish believers scattered across the ancient world, congregations that had likely formed in homes and gathered in rooms far smaller than our sanctuary today. Into one of those gatherings, James imagines two visitors walking through the door on the same morning, a wealthy man dressed in fine clothing and a poor man in clothes that were worn and shabby. The way that congregation responded to each man revealed something about the condition of their hearts, and James wanted them to see it clearly before it hardened into habit.

The picture he paints is uncomfortably specific. The man with the gold ring gets the good seat, while the man in rags gets told to stand in the back or sit on the floor. James calls this what it is, a form of judgment that has no place among people who claim to follow the Lord of glory. He reminds his readers that God has often chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, which means the very people being pushed to the margins of the room were the kind of people God was drawing close to himself.

This week we will spend time in James 2 using the HEAR method, moving through Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond. Along the way we will look at Leviticus 19 to understand where this concern for the poor and the vulnerable began, and Luke 14 to see how Jesus lived it out at his own table. For today, simply read the passage slowly and let it settle. Ask the Holy Spirit what he wants you to notice, and write it down before the day gets away from you.

HEAR about it:

Highlight:
Write down the verse, phrase, or word the Holy Spirit highlighted for you. Why did it stand out? What might God be saying to you through it?

Prayer and Reflection:

Take a few minutes to sit quietly and reflect on the passage you read today. Let the Holy Spirit bring to mind what stood out to you and why. Then spend some time in prayer. Pray for the people around you, for your outlook on this day, and for the needs you are carrying in your own life.

Lord, open my eyes before this week gets busy and my heart gets distracted. Show me the places where I have judged people by what they wear or what they own rather than seeing them the way you see them. Give me a teachable spirit as I sit under your word these next few days. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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