A Look into James : Wake

James 2:1, "My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ."

It's no secret that favoritism, discrimination, and racism are things that run rapidly in our world today. But it was never meant to be that way.

As sad as it is, racism is something that has existed since pretty much the beginning of the world, ever since the Fall. For those of us who aren't of color, or black, we may not see it as clearly around us because we aren't the ones experiencing it. But we need to wake up and realize that it still occurs.

It's been around for a long time, but due to recent events in the US, a light has been shined on it again. It breaks my heart that there are those who hate others simply because they are a different color. We need to pray for our black brothers and sisters. And we need to pray that God will change  hearts and mindsets of those who discrimate.

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God loves everyone. He created everyone. He designed the world perfectly. He made people unique and He created us with different skin tones, eye colors, and hair colors. The world would be pretty boring if we all looked the same.

We have different ethnic groups, different cultures, and speak different languages. That's great! We shouldn't overlook what makes someone who they are, and we also shouldn't discriminate against them because of it.

There's beauty in the differences we have and we all have souls and we all have hearts.

Ephesians 2:13-14, "But now in Christ, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility..."

Hebrews 13:1, "Let brotherly love continue."

Romans 12:9-10, "Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Outdo one another in showing honor."

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There is so much hatred in the world, so much evil. Don't return hate with hate, violence with violence, and evil with evil. But when hate rears it face, shine love. With violence comes knocking, be gentle but firm. When evil comes, turn to God for He is good.

Romans 12:21, "Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good."

1 Peter 3:15-17, "But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better to suffer doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil."

We can wake up. We can make a difference. We can make a stand.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14, "Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Do everything in love."

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I wasn't even going to write about this verse in James, but it felt right.

Let's stand out against racism and stand with our black brothers and sisters.
Let's spend time in prayer. Prayer is a lot more powerful than it seems.


Colossians 2:11, "In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free, but Christ is all and in all."