Day #2800

August 31, 2021 

Tuesday’s Thoughts on Scripture comes from James 2:1-4: My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism 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? (NRSV)

I do not know about you, but these are tough words to read. Yet, they hit the nail on the head. We humans often make judgements based on looks - what a person wears, their physical appeal, etc. However, the old saying, “you cannot judge a book by its cover” applies. We simply cannot know a person’s heart the way God does. And all God’s children are loved equally by God (which can also be tough words to read). 

This reminds me of an account I heard about the first Sunday of a new pastor’s call. He was not in the sanctuary as people gathered, but a man entered who was disheveled, smelly, and unshaven. He slowly made his way to the front of the sanctuary and sat in the front pew. There were a few awkward moments as folks looked at one another and wondered what to do. Finally, one of the ushers came forward and sat down next to the man, welcoming him and trying to quell the whispers. The man looked at the usher, smiled, then took off his hat and coat, stood up, and faced the congregation. Turns out it was the new pastor. What a way to begin in a truly welcoming congregation!

Blessings. And prayers.