James 2:1 New International Version (NIV)

Favoritism Forbidden

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

We are prone to judge people by their past and not their future. When Saul was converted on the road to Damascus, he was blinded by seeing Jesus. He was a hater of Christians and wanted to see them persecuted. He even stood and watched some die for their belief in Christ.

Jesus and the Father are both believers in the future of a man as opposed to how his sin was in his past. Jesus sent a man by the name of Barnabus to help Saul. It too Jesus speaking to him in a dream in Acts 9:26-28 to help him not fear Saul.

Barnabus feared Saul. He was a religious Zealot for the Law. Yet, Barnabus feared God more and walked in obedience. Many times as men, we get frozen in fear or in what we do not know about a person in their education, clothes, position, or skin color.

The first of each month, I go into the Newton Correctional Facility to speak. Men who have been incarcerated for some kind of sexual abuse. These men have broken the law. I could go in and judge and not have a caring or loving heart. I could judge their past.

The Holy Spirit spoke to me about these men. Go in and show compassion. I try to let them know they are not forgotten, and they have a future. Jesus died for them too. That is why I go in. In my work for the Lord, I lay down my judgement. I choose not to look at their past, but I look to their future by helping them to become the men God has called them to be.

Strength and Courage

Michael