Verse of the Day 3/25
New International Version
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: 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?
Our Tuesday Men's Bible study went through James chapter 2 this week and this verse jumped out at me. Most of us reading this would not consider ourselves to be poor, but we may know of some who are in different ways. Our older son Jeff, will turn 40 this year. He suffered a traumatic brain injury at the age of 16 which has left him disabled since that time. He really doesn't have anything to his name but he isn't worried about it. He has food, clothing, our home to live in and he enjoys life and often tells us "thank you for this wonderful life".
He is blessed by having many who love him and care for him. He appreciates everyone who cares for him and loves being with people and sharing his joy with them. I would say that he is rich in a few areas - faith, hope and love.
The verse above speaks of those who have faith "inherit" the kingdom". Normally we think of inheritance as something that comes to us with the passing of a loved one. But this verse looks at the kingdom that begins with being in the present tense and carries over to the future tense, sharing in Christ's rule over the present and future eternal kingdom.
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I"m sure that you may know of someone who is poor according to this world's standards but are rich in faith. Pray for them today, encourage them if you have the opportunity, let them know that you appreciate them, their joy, their faith, their hope put on display, their peace that passes understanding, and their love freely given to their friends, whom you are one blessed to be.
I don't think that there is anything that could separate God's love for Jeff and his love for Jesus.
New International Version
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Blessings,
Mike
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
New International Version
Favoritism Forbidden
2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: 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? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
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