1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
Even when setting out for the day to evangelize, noble as this is, can we still be sinning? How many people do we pass without handing them a tract? How many do we pass without speaking to them? How many do we let go by without walking them through the Law and the Gospel? Think about it. Why are we passing people by? Are we showing favoritism?
Maybe it is not as simple as ignoring the homeless people, and only talking to the rich people. I don't think it is limited to that. Do you pass young people dressed like they are on MTV because you can't relate to them? Do you pass old people because you are trying to respect your elders? Do you pass people dressed as Jews or Muslims because they obviously wouldn't be interested? Do you pass people wearing a cross necklace because they certainly would already know the truth?
Or, do you ignore them all because you just don't feel like taking the time to tell them the good news? At "club Heaven", are you the doorman standing outside in your suit picking and choosing who meets the criteria to get in? Or, are you as God called you to be, a servant, or waiter, attending to everyone? Get your comfortable shoes on, grab your tray, get out there and serve. There are people at every table just waiting for you to come by. Don't make them have to see the manager!
Let your compassion swallow your fear. Today, talk to the first person you see. You can do it.
3 comments:
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgamesh
In the Epic of Gilgamesh it is said that Gilgamesh ordered the creation of the legendary walls of Uruk. In historical times, Sargon of Akkad claimed to have destroyed these walls to prove his military power. Many scholars feel that the Epic of Gilgamesh is related to the Biblical story of the flood mentioned in Genesis.
Well, Andy, I'm not clear about which idea of Gilgamesh you claim is the "right" one. Could you elaborate?
Oh, and I have a great dentist I could recommend.
Thanks for posting this Dru, it was really something to think about..
God bless you brother, I will try to witness to the first stranger I meet today!
A.
Dude, I didn't witness to the first guy, but the fourth and fifth! They didn't speak any language I could speak, but I gave them some tracts in English anyways.
God bless you man, thanks for the encouragement!
Andreas.
Post a Comment