BTC Presents: "...but God..." A Weekday Morning Devotional Series James 3: 17-18

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, free of hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
James 3:17-18 NASB2020
To be impartial means we don’t judge before we know the facts. A judge should be treat all cases equally with a fair and just attitude. This is what Jesus asks of us. We are to treat all people with impartiality. Can you believe the USA celebrated our country’s 247th year of independence last year? This is what the founders meant when they said “All men are created equal!” This means all people should be treated equally. Has it happened? No. Has this country done a better job than most? Yes. Can we do better? Absolutely! If the followers of Christ would have stood up and said slavery is wrong, Jim Crow laws are wrong, woman deserve voting rights, and all people deserve to be treated as equals no matter the color of their skin or what they call themselves there would be much more unity and love, rather than discord!
If we have open discussions with the people we disagree with, and are truly impartial, discussing, without yelling and screaming hatred and judgment. Then we are doing what Jesus calls us to do. How can we help the hurting and disenfranchised if we don’t know why they are hurting and are alienated? We are called to Love with impartiality and without judgment.
How can we love our neighbor if we don’t know our neighbor. As Paul explains in his letter to the Corinthians “All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build people up. No one is to seek his own advantage, but rather that of his neighbor.”
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 NASB2020
By getting to know our neighbors and non followers of Christ we show them the Love of Christ and it is only He and the power of His Holy Spirit that will change their hearts.
Lord Thank you for teaching us what it means to be impartial as a follower of Christ. Help us to be in the world but not of the world. Help us to love as you have loved us through the powerful of the Holy Spirit. Thank you we live in a place that we can freely worship you! Help us to stand up for those who are not loved and are judged as you would do. Because we know the day is coming when we will not be able to speak as freely. Give us the strength and the power to stand for you, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen…
Shalom Shalom Blessings. Press In and Press On!