MFM Daily Devotional 11 December 2022

TOPIC: The Dangers of Partiality

Fire Scripture: James 2:1-10

Memory Verse
Leviticus 19:15 “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.”

Motivational Quote
The sun and moon shine on all without partiality.

Prophetic Word
I pray that God will use you to reconcile the world to Himself, in the name of Jesus.

MFM Daily Devotional 11 December 2022 OUTLINE

The Bible commands us that the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ should never be associated with partiality. It stresses that the Lord Himself shows no partiality (Deuteronomy 10:17 and Acts 10:34) so neither should those of us who put our trust in Him. A significant aspect of the work of Jesus was to break down the walls that divided humanity, and to bring forth one new race of mankind in Him (Ephesians 2:14-15). Also, the unity and openness of the early church was shocking to the ancient world. But the unity did not come automatically. As this command from James shows, the apostles had to teach the early church to never hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with partiality.

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Apostle James gave an example of the kind of partiality that should have no place among Christians: according respect and honour to the rich in gold rings, fine clothes, posh cars and the celebrities, giving them special seats while you despise the poor who come to church in filthy clothes. The Bible says that to favour the rich over the poor is evil and evident of deep carnality among Christians. This is because this kind of partiality shows that we care more for the outward appearance than we do for the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 affirms that God does not see as man sees; man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.

We too should look at the heart. Apart from this, when we show partiality and assume that the rich are more important, we miss the crucial point God made in James 2:5 that He hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of His kingdom. So they are the more important in God’s sight. We are also guilty of putting too much value on material riches, believing that the rich can do favours for us that the poor cannot. So our partiality does not agree with God’s heart. We have to stop every trace of it. Beloved, if we give room for partiality or discrimination, we will not succeed in demonstrating Christ’s love to the world or fulfil the Great Commission.

MFM Daily Devotional 11 December 2022 Prayer Points

MORNING
1. Father, make me an agent of unity and not disunity, in the name of Jesus.
2. I come against the spirit of partiality and discrimination, in the name of Jesus.
3. I reject every form of carnality, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING
4. Father, help me to demonstrate Your genuine love to others within and outside the Church, in the name of Jesus.
5. Father, help me to fulfil the Great Commission, in the name of Jesus.
6. Father, help me to honour and respect the rich and the poor the same way, in the name of Jesus.
7. O God, use my life and testimony to win souls for Your kingdom, in the name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Col 1; Col 2; Col 3; Col 4; Philemon