Partiality

"But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors" James 2:9. Wait, what did that say? When you show partiality, you are sinning? Yes. Read James 2:1-13. Go ahead.. I'll wait. I'm still waiting.. Wow!! Wasn't that just a bit convicting!? It was for me. Not only is saying that partiality is a sin, he is talking to his fellow believers! How often do we see a struggling believer that isn't doing what we think they should be doing, and we judge them and throw them to the side for someone else to take care of? I love the last verse in this passage on partiality. "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumps over judgment." So if we show no mercy to our fellow believers, then we will recieve no mercy. How incredible is that? God is the judge, we are not. I think of how many times I have written someone off, believers and non-believers alike. How I see that they don't "fit the mold" of who I think a Christian is. And I've even thought that you had to be doing things to be able to be used by God. Reading your Bible, serving, praying, etc. I've even gone as far as judge my husband. Horrible. I know. No one is above sin. God has used my husband in the last year to humble me. Four years ago, my Hunny was deployed. Now four years ago, I wasn't looking at my husband through God's eyes. I was seeing what I wanted to see. So, I of course saw that God wasn't going to use him and that he wasn't "doing what he was supposed to be doing" to be used. While he was deployed, he became friends with a guy in his unit. He was going through a really tough time with his wife and Hunny was able to encourage him, and God was able to use Hunny to plant a seed. Fast forward to last Augst. We returned back to Fort Drum and picked up our friendship where we left off. Through going to church with his wife and God continually seeking him, He accepted the Lord as his Savior! His wife accepted Christ a year before as well. In talking with him, he goes back to the deployment and how God used Hunny to help him and show him Christ. I stood there with goose bumps and tears as I was reminded of how judgmental I was of my husband. How on earth could God use him if he wasn't "doing" what you are "supposed" to be doing. God used that to humble me a lot. God used Hunny because he was willing to be used. There's no magical, Ok, I've read my Bible, I've prayed, I've 'worked' for God and now I can be used. No, there's none of that with God. Again, He does want a personal relationship with you, which is a different topic. I was just taken back. I looked at my husband in a new way. I softened my heart towards him as the leader of our family. 
 In saying all of that, I want to point out that there are those who are super judgmental and there are those who are super lovey and touchy feely with how they approach believers who are in sin. It's hard to let go and let God be the Judge. There is a day when we will be judged. What we as believers are to do among believers is to come along side of them, encourage them, and carry each others burdens. We are not to be showing favoritism amongst each other whether it be because of sin, a fight we have, people arne't dressed the part, etc. We are to extend the same mercy to them as Christ has extended to us. As I've heard in my Bible study, "If I were to compare myself to people here on earth, I'm looking pretty good! But we aren't supposed to compare ourselves to other people. Compare yourself to Jesus and that's another story. I'm very sinful next to him." When we take our eyes off of Christ and onto each other, we are setting ourselves up for failure. Satan wants nothing more than to cause disunity among believers. And fellow belivers, Satan is doing a number on our churches and on our families. 
 I have a loved one who has been away from the Lord for 22 years. This loved one has failed time and time again. But oh believers, how I have seen God drawing this person close to Him since the walked away. Tears running down my face as I think of the long road they've been down. The choices they have made and the suffering they went through due to those choices. I remember the church turning their backs on our family and most of our family giving up on this person as well. The hurt that has gone back and forth and gaping holes that will one day be restored. This story isn't over though. After 22 long years or praying, watching, praying, loving, praying, encouraging.. our God is faithful even we are not faithful. This loved one is back with our Papa. They are seeking him with many questions and they are in love with Him. God is constantly showing me that he doesn't work on our timing. He works in His timing. He shapes and molds and is constantly teaching us, even when we are stubborn. Can't we all agree that we are stubborn often times. No matter what the sin is, whether great or large in our eyes, it is all the same in God's eyes. I am rejoicing with this person as they are continually seeing God in their life. Continually being drawn closer to Him. We all stumble, we all fall, we all struggle, we all sin. God has shown me that he never gives up on His children, na matter how far they want to hide or run away from Him. He will go to great lengths to bring his children back to him. What JOY! Praises! Praises to our Papa who shows us no partiality. Who shows us great mercy. Who loves us enough to let us make our own mistakes only to use those mistakes to bring Glory and honor to His name!! Tears of joy for the loved one who has come back to our Papa! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ65aNv28Jc  

I know that I've shared this song before. But I just wanted to use it again. I am constantly failing God in all that I do. But because of God's Grace, patience, love, and sacrifice, He will always be there to pick me up, dust me off, and put me back on the right path. I fail in the area of partiality. I've not seen it until now and am working on changing it, but only with God. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FribXzqHVE       

In Christ Alone

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

I know! A lot of links! I hope you are able to take the time to listen to them. I think they are amazing!