equality

"My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen 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 (James 2:1-6 nkjv)."

Should we not treat all men and women with equality and respect, especially when they enter into our assembly and our community? Do we not do a disservice when we treat those honored guests or speakers with the praises of presidents and kings, yet in the same moment smirk when one comes in dirty and unkept?

This is no small matter to be overlooked, for the scripture is clear. Partiality is not the proper response to the One who has given we who are filthy the best seat in His house.

home

Where is it that we truly live? Is it this world we are to settle, decorate and dwell? Or is there somewhere else we look to as our permanent residence and home?

The Scripture gives us an answer to this question which must shape our focus and our hope:

"20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself (Philippians 3:20-21 nkjv)."

We wait for the coming of our Lord. We are as children, spending a brief moment at our school of preparation, waiting for our father to pick us up and take us back to where we know we belong. Waiting to be taken back to a safe place. Waiting to go to our precious home where peace, joy and rest replace labor, effort and stress.

Let us walk as a people looking for Him.