Day 7: Wednesday 2/25

READ: James 2:1-4 

My brothers and sisters, when you show favoritism you deny the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been resurrected in glory. Imagine two people coming into your meeting. One has a gold ring and fine clothes, while the other is poor, dressed in filthy rags. Then suppose that you were to take special notice of the one wearing fine clothes, saying, “Here’s an excellent place. Sit here.” But to the poor person you say, “Stand over there”; or, “Here, sit at my feet.” Wouldn’t you have shown favoritism among yourselves and become evil-minded judges?

REFLECT 

James gets specific. Favoritism based on wealth isn't just bad manners; it contradicts everything we claim to believe about Jesus. When we defer to the rich and dismiss the poor, we're operating by the world's logic, not God's. We're betting that proximity to power matters more than God's upside-down economy. In a church, this isn't just toxic — it's apostasy.

RESPOND 

Notice today who you instinctively defer to based on power, status, or credentials. Ask yourself: whose approval am I actually seeking?

PRAY 

Jesus, who had nowhere to lay your head, forgive us for the ways we've replicated the world's hierarchies in your church. Amen.