Truth Connections, November 13, 2009

Treat Everyone Equally Part Three: Triumph Through Mercy
Background Passage: James 2:1-13
Today’s Focal Passage: James 2:8-13

This week’s lessons are about relating to others without prejudice or favoritism.



“From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him like that. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. Now everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us, we plead on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God’”
(2 Corinthians 5:16-20, HCSB).

Differences. How often do we notice the differences in people rather than the ways we are alike? We notice differences in economic status based on where people live, what they wear, or what car they drive (or don’t drive). We notice differences in families, skin color, schools attended, career paths, and a multitude of other categories. But God is different. He doesn’t think the way we think or look at people the way we look at people. He doesn’t compare us with others. And He doesn’t play favorites. Instead, He sees each person as His unique creation and embraces the differences. For God, different is not bad because all can be reconciled to Him through Jesus. And Jesus wants us to be His ambassadors, connecting all people by leading them to reconcile with God.

Who are the “different” people around you?
How might you be an ambassador for Christ to these people?
How can you focus on reconciling others to God through Christ regardless of how different they may be from you?