The Upper Room Daily Devotion – Wednesday, 22 January 2014 - “To Hear the Word” Read James 2

The Upper Room Daily Devotion – Wednesday, 22 January 2014 - “To Hear the Word” Read James 2:  Warning against Partiality

1 My brothers and sisters,[a] do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?[b] 2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,”[c] 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters.[d] Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7 Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

8 You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Footnotes:

a. James 2:1 Gk My brothers

b. James 2:1 Or hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ without acts of favoritism

c. James 2:3 Gk Sit under my footstool

d. James 2:5 Gk brothers

Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? (James 2:5 (NRSV))

Our young-adult Bible study group sat outside a sandwich shop in downtown Washington, D.C. We were beginning our discussion of the letter of James when a man approached our table. “Excuse me,” he said; “Are you studying the Bible?” One of us hesitantly answered, “Yes.” “May I join you?” he responded. We glanced at each other. How could we say no? The man sat down and asked if we would read the passage again. We did, and it was stunning. James indicts his audience for showing favoritism to the rich while neglecting the poor. Ray, the man who had joined us, listened intently as we read. Then he told us about being homeless and going into churches and being ignored or even asked to leave because he wasn’t well-dressed or well-groomed. “The worst part of being homeless,” he said, “is having nowhere to hear the word.” He meant the “word of God”; but he could also have meant any word at all. Too often, people who are homeless are ignored; no one speaks to them. After studying the Bible and sharing a meal, we asked Ray if we could pray for him; but he prayed for us. Christ visited us that night. How many other nights have we received a visit from Christ and not realized it? (The Author-David Hosey (District of Columbia, USA))

Thought for the Day: God comes to us at unexpected times.

Prayer: God of the poor, help us to see your face in everyone who is in need. Amen.

Prayer focus: People who are homeless

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