praying effectively: Do Not Show Partiality (James 2:1-13)

(James 2:1-13)  My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor [of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?

8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we do not favor the rich over the poor, or favor someone who will be a benefit us, making distinctions among ourselves with evil motives (2:1-4)

- that we love our neighbors as ourselves (2:8)

- that we speak and act with pure motives, in God's will (2:12)

- that we show mercy (2:13)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for loving all people without distinction.  You paid the price for everyone's sins, whether they accepted You as a personal Savior or not.  Help us to see everyone with Your eyes.  Guide us to show Your grace and mercy to those around us.  May we allow You to work in and through our hearts, so that our desire is to say and do everything with pure motives.  All to Your glory, amen.