“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons” (James 2:1).

Every time I come to the book of James I find myself stretched, encouraged, convicted, and challenged. In one simple statement, James speaks to the church of every generation. He reminds us that we, as the family of the Lord, must not play favoritism when it comes to people. He goes on to illustrate that if a wealthy man finely dressed comes into the assembly, he is not to be given a place of prominence. On the other hand, if a poor man enters wearing shabby rags, he is not to be shunned. From 1995 until 2002 I was the senior pastor of the Central Baptist Church of Binghamton, New York. This church, in addition to operating a Christian school, also operated a rescue mission for homeless men. I was reminded over and over again that beneath the hardened, weathered exterior is a person for whom the Lord Jesus died and rose again. May God keep us from partiality and favoritism.

For today: How will the passage (James 2:1-26) play out in your life today?