Journal Entry ~ 06/17/18
But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. - James 2:9
Just in case you were wondering if showing favoritism to some people over another is sin, James says it plainly in this verse. Discriminating against people for any reason is a sin against God.
We have such a tendency to minimize our own sin. We hold it up and compare it to others and think we’re not that bad. Our hearts are so deceitful as we hide what truly lies within us. Partiality is one of those sins that lies so deep in our hearts it has become a generational stronghold. Our culture has taught us in very subtle ways how to treat people of different economic status, different religions, different sexual identities, different races. These lessons get stored in our hearts so discreetly that we don’t even recognize them as sin much of the time.
James is trying to shake us awake with this statement, helping us to understand what great wickedness showing partiality to anyone for any reason truly is. God created each life that lives on this planet. He has a purpose and a plan for every one of His creatures, and His desire is that each and every creation come to know His love, His grace, and His mercy. When we show partiality to any one, for any reason, we are committing sin because we are replacing His love with our imperfect judgment.
God calls us to love others, period. Anything short of demonstrating His great and deep love to others is an affront to Him, and places ourselves up on His throne. Remember, sin is a condition of the heart and not merely an outward behavior. Partiality grows in the heart, and is a root that only God can reveal to you as you seek Him. Ask Him to search your heart today and reveal to you any partiality you hold against others, confess and repent of that sin, then allow Him to create a heart of humility toward the people you have discriminated against.
Press on ~ you are loved 💗
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