Beyond the Weekend

June 4 | Favorites

June 4, 2018

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. James 2:1

Read: James 2:1-13

Listen: James 2

TODAY’S MESSAGE

James writes this letter to believers who have been through significant trials and will go through more. They are meeting in homes scattered throughout the Roman world.

As they meet in these homes, James hears reports that something bad is happening. They have begun to play favorites with those coming to worship. They are giving the best seats to those who are wealthy and mistreating the poor. They are accepting the common cultural practice of judging based on what society thinks is important, instead of what God thinks is important.

James is not happy with how the church is conforming to social standards in how they treat others.

We conform today to social standards with the way we treat people too. This is especially true for those different than us.

However, God has his own standards. There is nothing wrong with noticing someone is different than us, but we need to work not to let that determine the way we treat them. We need to try to see them as God sees them. We shouldn’t play favorites. Our actions don’t have to follow our preconceived notions. Instead, they should flow from the mercy God has shown us.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Confess to God that you may not always value people the same way he does. Open your hands to him and pray, “God, I am open to what you have to show me about playing favorites this week. Help me begin the work of changing my heart.”


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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