By Pastor John Bingham
James 2:2-4, “For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”
In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote that during his student days he read the Gospels seriously and considered converting to Christianity. He believed that in the teachings of Jesus he could find the solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India.
So one Sunday he decided to attend services at a nearby church and talk to the minister about becoming a Christian. When he entered the sanctuary, however, the usher refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go worship with his own people. Gandhi left the church and never returned. "If Christians have caste differences also," he said, "I might as well remain a Hindu." That usher's prejudice not only betrayed Jesus but also turned a person away from trusting Him as Savior.
When Christ walked the earth, the example he laid was contrary to what Gandhi experienced. Christ loved the pauper and the prince because He died for both. We too are called to love each man, woman and child just the way that Christ did, without partiality. We are called to demonstrate to all men the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our faithful example of Christ’s love may be the difference in one person accepting Christ as their Saviour. Let us seek to change the world by consistently showing the love of Christ to each person we meet.
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