Monday, March 23

Monday, March 23 - James 2

"don't show favoritism"

I have had some concerns as we have moved forward with "ministry mile". Some of the individuals who live within a mile of our church are very different than the membership of FUMC. It is easy to talk about welcoming strangers into the church but what would the reality be when some new guests arrived? How would those who are very different than our church members be welcomed? Would issues like favoritism that James talks about in this chapter arise?

I am very thankful the manner in which the church has welcomed these new guests into our midst. I give thanks to God for how welcoming the church has been to the Spanish speaking people that now attend. I am also very thankful for the way which some of the very poor around us have been warmly welcomed into our church. There is one particular woman who was living a very difficult life, whose life have been transformed by the way she has been accepted at FUMC. It is wonderful to watch the church live out the words of James.