November 21
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ON FAVORING OTHERS
A poem by ILMA
How can you claim to have faith in Jesus if you favor some people over others?
Suppose someone comes dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry
Then another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes
If you give special attention to the rich and give the poor discrimination.
Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith?
They’re the ones who will get the Kingdom he vowed to those who love him?
But some dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who repress you and drag you to court Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?
It is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures saying
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others
Then, you are committing a sin and is guilty of breaking the law
For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as the one who broke it.
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MEMORY VERSE
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. – James 2:8
Read: James 2:1-12
It is interesting how the book of James talks about how we must treat everyone equal and not favor someone over another. How many characters in the bible have been a victim of favoritism? Jacob favored his son Joseph which drove all his other sons to plot to kill him. Rachel favored Jacob and sinned by convincing her own son to steal his brother’s birthright. When we favor someone over another, we are inviting jealousy and other sins.
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REFLECTION
• Why is having favoritism or discrimination a very lethal practice in our world?
• Have you ever experienced to be a favorite? What did it do to the other people around you?
• Have you ever been discriminated or marginalized in your workplace, in your own family or another country you have moved to?
• What causes people to favor someone over others?
Tag Archives: discrimination
THE SIN OF PREJUDICE Poem Devotional
April 9________________________________________
But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. – James 2:9(NLT)
THE SIN OF PREJUDICE
A poem and essay by ILMA
God created all men differently but equal
He is patient with us and he is always loyal
He doesn’t prefer someone else over another
He wants us to love all of our sisters and brothers.
If you have a prejudice over the weak or the poor
You are guilty of breaking the law, you are a fool
When you favor someone else over another
You are sinning against God and your neighbors.
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When I came to Canada, I never thought I would experience prejudice just because I came from Asia. Moving to a small town with thirty thousand people and with a majority of Caucasians, posed a challenge for me during the first eight years of my move here. In 2004, I would say that there might have been only a handful of Asians or Black people here, probably not even a hundred out of that population. I wasn’t even aware of it at the beginning, but then as months passed by, I encountered hostile looks, being treated like you are stupid and can’t understand them. Some did silent mockery by minimizing your capacity and skills or not giving you an opportunity to get the good job positions. The bible says that it is a sin to have prejudice over others.
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PRAYER
Lord, please help me never to mistreat anyone or be biased or judged someone different from me.
REFLECTION
Why does God hate prejudice?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
IF YOU FAVOR SOME OVER OTHERS Poem Devotional
April 8________________________________________
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? – James 2:1(NLT)
IF YOU FAVOR SOME OVER OTHERS
A poem and essay by ILMA
The Lord made us in his own likeness
We can all live like him in righteousness
He wants us to love all our sisters and brothers
So, don’t favor someone else over others.
If you give preference to someone over another
You are doubting God’s creation and character
If you are a believer in our glorious Jesus
You will treat everyone as very precious.
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When God created the first man and woman, he patterned them in his own image. Let’s not forget that we are all seen by God equally. He is a fair and just God and he is not impartial to anyone. He loves all people. In Romans 5:8, he proved that he immensely loves us all. He sent his one and only Son while we were still sinners. God may hate the sins that we engage in, but he always loves the person he created. He is patient with all of us and can understand where we are all coming from. He gives grace and mercy equally to all but he will never force us to do what he says. The book of James challenges us to look into the issue of giving favor to some over others.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me never to give preference to others over another person.
REFLECTION
What do you think is the source of favoritism or discrimination?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com