The Deity of Christ and How We Treat People (James 2:1-4)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 09-08-03

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  The Deity of Christ & how we treat people

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  James 2:1-4

 

            Message of the verse:  “1 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, "’it here at my footstool,’ 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?  (NKJV)  “My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim that you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people more than others?  For instance, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in shabby clothes.  If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, ‘You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor’—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that you are guided by wrong motives?”  (NLT)

            In this section, (James 2:1-13), James writes about four different Christian doctrines and relates them to how we treat other people.  This first on is given in verses 1-4 and the doctrine he shows us is the Deity of Christ.  He gives that in the first verse and then sites an example in the remaining three verses.  Jesus Christ was God in human flesh while He walked upon this earth, and He knew the hearts of everyone He came in contact with.  He did not respect persons while He was on earth, in other words He did not think more highly of people because of their position or wealth. The word translated “partiality” in verse one sheds some light on how believers are to have this same quality that Jesus had in regard to respecting persons.  “2a) The fault of one who when called on to give judgment has respect of the outward circumstances of man and not to their intrinsic merits, and so prefers, as the more worthy, one who is rich, high born, or powerful, to another who does not have these qualities.”  As believers, James says that we have a tendency to judge people by their outward appearance and not what is on the inside of them.  We also tend to judge people on their past and not on their future.  Jesus Christ was not born into a rich or powerful family, and Isaiah says that He did not have the looks that would attract Him to others.  He grew up in a city that people in His day looked down upon.  Yet Jesus Christ did attract people to Himself because of His love for others, for even though He hated sin He loved, and still does love sinners even today, and He does that through His believers on this earth, but we are to live by His example in order to do this. 

            In Dr. Wiersbe’s book on James, “Be Mature,” he asks and answers the question, “How do we practice the deity of Christ in our human relationships?  It is really quite simple:  look at everyone through the eyes of Christ.  If the visitor is a Christian, we can accept him because Christ lives in him.  If he is not a Christian, we can receive him because Christ died for him.  It is Christ who is the link between us and others, and He is a link of love.  The basis for relationship with others is the Person and work of Jesus Christ.  Any other basis is not going to work.”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  In order for me to be able to treat others the way that Jesus Christ treated them while upon the earth I must be a doer of the word and not a hearer only.  I must put shoe leather to the things that I have learned while studying the Scriptures and believe them in spite of circumstances or consequences. 

 

The Word of God has again challenged, and convicted my heart as I studied it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To trust the Lord with the disturbing news that I learned yesterday in regard to having the Church turning down Pastor Dunn as its next senior Pastor.  This hurts my heart very much, and yet I must continue to trust the Lord in spite of the hurt feelings that I have concerning all of this, for He is still in charge.