Morning Tonic: Avoid Partiality

*AVOID PARTIALITY*
*TEXT:* JAMES 2:1-9.
_*🔑KEY VERSE* "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons" (JAMES 2:1)._

We were all born the same way when we came into this world and we will go the same way when we die. There is no distinction between the birth or death of the poor or the rich. We shall all go naked to God as we came naked from Him.

Our passage passes a great warning to us as to how to avoid partiality in the house of God. We must see both the poor and the rich in the household of faith in the same way as God sees them.

If a text points to the fact that we should avoid at all cost the sin of partiality in the Church of God, we must not make a distinction between the rich and the poor. Wherever this is practised, the Spirit of God will depart. God's love is impartial and He never allows any outward appearance to affect His relationship with us. He is God of the rich as well as of the poor. God is looking for humility, purity and righteousness in His Church. He looks at the proud from a distance.

The Bible injunction is: "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God", whether they be poor or rich. It is better for a poor man to be rich in faith and become heir of His Kingdom. We must allow the love of God to dominate our hearts. This should be supreme in our hearts above other things. We may obey all the laws of hygiene but if we take in just a little poison we may die. So it is with the word of God. If we obey all but fail in one, we have invalidated all notwithstanding other good we may have done.

We must not judge anybody by his economic status but follow the royal law of our Lord Jesus Christ who treats us equally in spite of our status.

*✍THOUGHT FOR THE DAY* All men and women are equal before our All-seeing God.

*COVER TO COVER* PSALM 24-30.

*MEDITATION*

How not to treat your fellow human beings

1. Avoid favouritism, partiality, prejudice or snobbery towards people. It is not part of the Christian faith v1.
2. Don't rate a soul above another one on the basis of wealth, status or appearance. All souls are equal and important to God vv2,3. Soul winners
should take note.
3. Don't do anything to despise the poor or less privileged in the house of God vv5,6.
4. Never allow evil thoughts that the wealthy, either in material or mental things, are more needed and more influential in the Church. In most cases, the converted poor people are richer in the faith needed for real spiritual impact vv4-6.
5. Don't treat anyone the way you would not like to be treated. Love your neighbour, including the poor or less privileged, as yourself vv8,9.
6. Follow Jesus' example: He died for all regardless of status; He gives spiritual wealth to people on the basis of response of faith and not on the basis of earthly status or possession; He does not deal with people according to appearance but according to the obedience of faith; He despises the vile but honours those who seek and fear the Lord irrespective of status v5, Psalm 15:4.
7. Partiality, favouritism, prejudice and snobbery on the basis of status or possession is transgression and sin against God v9.

*HYMN* Deeper Deeper in the love of Jesus

1 Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
*Refrain:*
O deeper yet, I pray,
And higher ev'ry day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
2 Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will. [Refrain]
3 Deeper, deeper! tho' it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow. [Refrain]
4 Deeper, higher, ev'ry day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last. [Refrain]
5 Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue. [Refrain]

*PRAYER POINTS*
1. Lord, I hereby repent from of all carnality and sins of partiality and favoritism.
2. Lord, stamp in my spirit your divine nature to love my neighbour, including the poor and the underprivileged, as myself.
3. Let the word and the Spirit of God sweep away the refuse of partiality and favoritism away from Church administration.
4. Bring your Church back to the old time religion.