James 2:1 My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. 2 If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, 3 and you say to the man in the suit, "Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!" and either ignore the street person or say, "Better sit here in the back row," 4 haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who can't be trusted? 5 Listen, dear friends. Isn't it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world's down-and-out as the kingdom's first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. 6 And here you are abusing these same citizens! Isn't it the high and mighty who exploit you, who use the courts to rob you blind? 7 Aren't they the ones who scorn the new name - "Christian" - used in your baptisms? 8 You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: "Love others as you love yourself." 9 But if you play up to these so-called important people, you go against the Rule and stand convicted by it. 10 You can't pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God's law and ignoring others. 11 The same God who said, "Don't commit adultery," also said, "Don't murder." If you don't commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? No, you're a murderer, period. 12 Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. 13 For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time. 14 Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? 15 For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved 16 and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup - where does that get you? 17 Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? (The message)
What a concept to pray to ask God for those for whom we can offer grace and compassion or even to ask for new church members, but the ones nobody else wants or sees! We should be people who ask God for everything, especially for how we can best serve God's people. We tend to limit our prayers to asking God to bless "the fellowship" or membership. Our prayer lists may reflect the exclusive nature of our "club;" those outside of membership need not bother. I know this is not true, but it is not the message we sometimes share? "If you pray for me, I'll pray for you!" I had one person unsubscribe from this devotional list because "I don't know these people for whom you're asking prayer so I'm not going to pray for them." Hmmm. If our prayer life, which we do in private conversation with God reflects such an attitude then how are we living out our "Christian" life? James tackles that from experience. We have room, he says, for the ones with money, in fact, the best room, the best seats; but we don't seem to have room for the poor or the down and out. I keep referring back to an old movie I used to show my students in campus ministry, "Kevin Can Wait" which was loosely based on the popular movie "Heaven Can Wait," except this one was about a young man, Kevin, who is visited by an angel who is told that God had a special plan for his life. Kevin begins to imagine all the glamorous things he is being groomed for; a large arena-sized church, or as a Banana Republic (yes, they used to sell safari clothes!) clad missionary, or hosting a Tonight Show type Christian talk show. And spoiler alert, God wanted Kevin to make the young mechanic with the dirty fingernails who was visiting his Sunday school (remember those?) to be made feel welcome. Kevin was a university-aged young man and one of the young ladies in his class was dating the university football star quarterback and his first Sunday there everyone clamored to greet and meet him, while the young mechanic lingered in the back. He was the one not seen and not wanted. God wanted Kevin to make him feel welcome.
God already has too many "judges who can't be trusted." What God needs are "attorneys/cousenlors" who represent the cause of the unseen and unwanted, who truly "Love others as you love yourself." (v. 8). We are asked to "Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free." We are free; free to love and care for those whom no one else seems to want nor see. Put your freedom into action by caring for "the least, the lost, and the last."
PRAYER: Loving God, do send to me and whoever else makes this their prayer, the ones no one else can see nor wants. Let me live my life as one who represents and cares for them. I know there is a place also for the rich and mighty in your kingdom, but let us all know we are in service to the One who calls and welcomes all. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
Though for the Day
If you seek to welcome Jesus, you welcome Him and all his "interesting friends".
