My brothers and sisters, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and is dressed in bright clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the bright clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?

Have you ever felt the coldness of being treated differently? Maybe you were dressed casually in a formal place, or just could tell quickly that you did not fit in. We typically feel the judgment of others faster than we catch our own favoritism toward others. Whatever our reason, James was very clear, we all have a bias that impacts how we interact with people and who we are likely or unlikely to cater to. Based on our experiences, we make distinctions about people instead of seeing them as God sees them.

Jesus made a relationship with God possible for all who call on His name, not just the people we deem “most likely” to receive Him. As we interact with others, we practice faith in God that is bigger than our categories, distinctions, and perceptions. His love goes far and wide, often choosing the unlikely and using those no one expected. As we welcome others into the community of faith, God leads us to connect with people who seem completely opposite of us. God has chased us down and brought in people from all different tribes and nations. He delights in the diversity and unity of His people as we trust His way over our own biases.

• Who are the people you are most comfortable talking to? Who are people you find it difficult to interact with? Why?
• When have you felt judged or left out? How did that make you feel? How have you shown bias toward others? How do you think that has impacted them?
• Pray for people who seem unlike you. Ask God to work on the bias in your heart and move you toward love for those people.