Your weekly love note from God, as imagined by Sandhya! Today’s is from Sandhya’s favorite book of the Bible, the book of James. Whispered to be written by Jesus’ brother, and nearly eliminated from the biblical canon for being “too Jewish,” this book guides the church in how to be radically inclusive of people on the margins.
James 2:1-4 My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favouritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Have a seat here, please’, while to the one who is poor you say, ‘Stand there’, or, ‘Sit at my feet’, have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
My way is simple but not easy. And in a world that values money and status, my way is also counter-cultural. Look around your community. Are the gifts of people who don’t have high status valued in your community? Do they have the same positions of responsibility and authority? Are they helping shape the direction of your community? If not, then today I invite you to pray for guidance on how to help your community align better with my way. And if so, offer up prayers for diligence in staying on my path when the world so badly wants to pull you off of it.
For more love notes from God all week:
Sandhya Rani Jha 