|
Seeing who is unseen
by Shem Derick Looking in the book of James chapter 2:1-12 (NIV). This particular verse speaks of favoritism being forbidden and notice the the heading of the whole chapter "Favoritism Forbidden" meaning that its not just something that is not right or one of those things that are not compatible to the Lords' body but rather something that the Lord can not take in. Something that he does not see anymore. Just to dig deeper in to the scripture; Verse one goes on to say that; my brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, "don't" show favoritism. Speaking of favoritism,the oxford meaning to that word is "to express approval or consent" or "to the advantage of someone or something". James as he wrote this to the twelve tribes, his intentions and purpose was to make these people see other than what their eyes could see. Like Paul, he wrote with a desire that they saw Christ. In this particular verse, he was addressing believers in Christ Jesus. To all extents, i believe his point was not to just forbade believers from treating poor people harshly or to draw equal lines between the poor and rich.!! I highly doubt. James saw as the Lord by his spirit made him see more of who God was. The fall of man in Genesis was driven by choice to walk and live by what God never indeed for man to have. Man choose to live by knowledge and truth and he rejected life that was offered to him by God. In chapter 2 James brings back the same concept of choice, treatment of one, or thing with advantage to the other "applying dictionary language" and it this very thing that he goes on to for bide believers IN CHRIST JESUS why? Cause they already received something ten-folds more than what they think they can have if at all choice is made. In verse two, he goes on to say, " 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? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? ;I love how he goes on to ask these questions, they honestly make me go speechless. James draws a clear page that there is nothing in this world that was left worth dying for since the death of Christ brought us in to one union with him. He goes ahead to mention some of the outcomes of that choice we make for our benefit and yet still bring us to the one question of "don't you know that you have been given life to try and seek for another". Thought this whole verse, he uses the aspects of the poor and rich and if we see as close as these words hit our eyes, we are yet to miss the point. In verse 8, he says that love your neighbor as you love your self and naturally in life, we can try to bring to application of this verse but all in vain. The union we have in Christ fills us with the love of God who is the love him self, we are his bride brought in to his marriage. To me that verse takes me back to one thing, do we know the lord, are we united together in his death to know and grow in his love? Usually answering that question is as easy as snapping your fingers but its not about answering but rather fulfillment of that reality in your soul, seeing the Lord as your life; Let me say that you cant love the Lord if you don't know him as life. James goes on to say; vs.9 if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as law breakers. Vs.10 for whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. I would love to mention that life other than Christ, is a totally illusion, a natural reality, mess and Christ drew that contrast when he declared him self as life of which we naturally had biological life, however, it wasn't life to him. So in verse 10, James mentions something about keeping the whole law and yet one wrong act makes you stumble and that same law that you break, makes you break them all. Well he does mention about law keeping and all but his point is not in trying to keep the law. Of curs we know the whole law thing was dealt with by Christ and now we don't have to walk by do's and don'nts but rather have to manifest life which is Christ . James, i believe meant for us to see life in all newness in Christ Jesus who is the fullness of the church in that way, we would know our death and consider all that lost value and is dead as a result of Christs death, remain dead as we partake of life in Christ. Ordinary person with a desire to share in the body of Christ as revealed by the spirit of God Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |