No Favorites

My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory with partiality.  For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "you sit here in a good place,"and say to the poor man,"you stand here," or, "Sit here at my footstool," have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
James 2: 1-4 NKJV

We all have those people that are special in our lives.  In fact, we strive to treat them as well as we can.  This isn't uncommon, for good, strong friendships are important to us all.  However, on the other hand, we also know those people who, for one reason or another, seem to get on our last nerve.  Hey, I admit I know more than a few people like that.  Do I always show love and acceptance to those around me, NO!  Admitting my mistakes, however, doesn't make my behavior right or just.  This same revelation is the same for us all in our daily walk.  The life of our Lord Jesus always needs to be reflected in our interactions with others.  If indeed Jesus dwells in us, and I believe that he does, then his love and mercy will shine through us.  In this others will see Jesus within us.
The book of James is one of my most favorite, with many important lessons.  In chapter 2, we see James' thoughts on thinking that some people are more important than others.  I'd have to add, that in Gods eyes, we're all the same.  After all, he loves everyone with his same infinate love.  If he didn't, then he would just pick and choose who got saved and who didn't.  Gods just not that way.  His desire is that EVERYONE would come to repentance.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galations 3:28 NKJV

It's easy to see, then, that partiality begins and ends with us.  We are all one in our Lord Jesus.  If there is a brother who irritates you, yet you will accept that very same behavior that you find so reprehensible from another whose company you enjoy, are you not showing favoritism?  Is the life of Christ living within us being shown?  We are all vessels of our risen Lord, and there is no better way for his love to shine into this world than through us.

~Scott~