My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, You sit here in a good place, while you say to the poor man, You stand over there, or, Sit down at my feet, have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? (James 2:1-7, ESV)
Why is it when we see some one at a light or on the street corner with a cardboard sign asking for money we lock our doors or walk on the other side of the street? Why do we assume they are making more pan handling than we are slaving away at our job?
Why do we judge people by what they where? If someone has a gold ring and fancy clothes so what? Are they really any different than someone who wears jeans and t-shirts all the time? We look at people and think we know who they are and their life situations by seeing them once or twice… Look around you today at the people you work with. How well do you know these people? Some of them you may have known for years, but do you know what struggles they are facing? Do you know the pain that is taking over their lives?
We can not know a person by their appearance. We can not judge a person by what they look like, because deep down inside where it really matters we are all the same, and we are all loved by God and were given the same mercy from Him.
So go and show mercy this day, not judging others, but living out God’s mercy through your life.
aSacredRebel 