Listen here to the devotional: https://bit.ly/3mIYBjv
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? (James 2:1-17 The Message Bible)
A blessed and tremendous Tuesday, dear ConCafe Family. May the joy of the Lord be your strength today, dear Friend! Please continue to lift up the Lester Family as they prepare for the funeral of Mr. Tom Lester, Jr. on Wednesday. May God's comfort, grace, and peace be with them, and our prayers for Pastor Matt Pennington, as he prepares to bring God's healing balm through the Word. Pray for any anywhere who mourn, and for those who are hurting and in need of healing. May your needs be met in the Lord as you pray for others.
This passage is pretty self-explanatory as we have heard countless stories where the principles being taught are lived out and acted out each and every day in churches around the world. Some humans have a tendency to cater to the better dressed and better looking and the writer of this letter addresses this as not being a part of who we are called to be and that is Christians. I've seen it in numerous churches and it's the littlest and silliest things that can cause division and friction between believers. If we act in this way, Satan laughs and applauds, and we are none the wiser. Interesting how this modern version shares the word segregation, which is not an acceptable word in any holy setting. Our example is God, and God does not segregate. If ever we hope to see an inclusive setting, Heaven will be that place, where people of all hues, statuses, races, languages, et al, will be welcomed and sat at the banquet table to enjoy the finest meal of love and peace, comfort and joy. God has shown a special place in His heart for the marginalized and the downtrodden; and as this version calls it, the "Royal Rule of the Scriptures is "Love others as you love yourself." To go against this Rule is to stand convicted of having broken it. God's word is not a Reader's Digest of selected verses, meaning our favorite self-pleasing passages; no, it is about what God has shared with us which we are to take seriously.
The writer continues; do you think by keeping one commandment and flagrantly violating another, one is canceled out and made alright in God's eyes? In no way! God's law is meant to be followed. "Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free." He means for us to act with kindness and acceptance to all people. And it's not enough to quote scriptures while ignoring them and not living them. To encounter an old friend who is dressed in rags and half-starving and greet them with "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit" does not fill his stomach or meet his needs of being cold and needing a jacket. And the wonderful final verse, "Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?" Indeed! And amen!
PRAYER: Loving Father, we confess we have been guilty of many violations of hospitality and charity; forgive us we pray, and grant us new opportunities in which to shine Your light to glorify You; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Seek ways to live out your compassion and include all people!
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
