Daily Bread 4-19-18

James 2:5-8

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

7 Do they not blaspheme the worthy name by which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

ref. - Pr 8:17 - I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Mt 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Lv 19:18 - Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

hone he chose us to salvation, we were poor,desolate, and needy. Maybe not as the world sees it, but spiritually we were empty. One day someone came along and gave us information about a savior. One that could help us to make a change and to fulfill our God given potential. A message of hope and love, faith and forgiveness. This message was of Jesus Christ. Even though we were not of the tribe that was called "Christian" there was someone who cared enough about us to give us this ray of hope. And from an unknowing, spiritually bankrupt shell we ended up in victory! We were brought from enemies of the cross of Christ to worshippers. We were forgiven, we were redeemed, we were in the place that we were made to be in! And all because someone treated us the way that they once were treated by another. Now, as we grow in Jesus Christ and his Spirit takes up residence in us we are changed to these caring, loving, people who treat others as they wish to be treated. We remember how we were treated when we didn't "qualify" or belong by those who knew it all, and do not wish for anyone else to have to experience that same mistreatment. We show the same love that Christ showed the people of a different tribe when his own would not receive him. We love without expecting anything in return. We give without expectation of receiving. We treat others with compassion, not because it is ordered, but because it is within us to be this way. We actually love those that have been put in our paths and in our Church and in the family of God, as ourselves. And all this because we have been given the greatest gift the mankind has ever received, Jesus Christ. We have been given this great gift because we know what it is like to not belong, to be cut out, to not have the knowledge that others have. We have been mistreated and God will never let us forget that. All because of this path that we have traveled we have ended up here, within the grace of God and in the will of God. Loving others not as the world sees love, but as God is love. We seek to attain that heavenly calling of eternal life and move forward as we are shown better ways and better paths to travel in the teachings of Christ. Not ever trying to alter nor falling asleep, but ever remaining attentive to the calling in which we have been called; to love one another as ourselves. And this we do every day, day in and day out, until Christ comes again..................or do we? Many prayers are needed, every day, for us to achieve this great gift, but as the word of God says in Phillipians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Believe it. Have a great day!!!