Steven Fruitticher

Don’t Judge the Book by the Cover

As I read in the book of James, James presented the fact that God does not have favorites. James gives us an incredible example of how Jesus calls us to respond as believers. Now, based on the example in James, he points out that we are quick to make judgments based off of physical appearances. The rich, wealthy, and well dressed man is given the royal treatment and is escorted to the front pew for what would be considered the best seat. And the poor tattered dressed man is told to stand in the back, where no one could see him, or he could sit by the attendants feet. James would address the issue of partiality/favoritism that was prevalent in their culture. (I would hate to tell James that not much has changed in our current culture.) So, let me share an example. I have multiple bibles I use for my faith journey. First, I have a bible that is navy blue leather bound. It was the bible I started my faith journey with many years ago. It has several blemishes on the cover and doesn’t look so new any more. Second, I have a black leather bound bible that I used in seminary. It is covered in notes and is falling apart. Romans to Revelation is no longer bound to the spine like the rest of the book. Third, I have a tan leather bible that I use daily. The leather cover over the spine is gone. The edges are almost non-existent and the pages are covered with my thoughts and notes from my daily pursuit of Jesus. Now, based on my story and details, most people might say that I have a favorite bible. Well, maybe, but each bible tells a story about me and each had/has its use. I would argue I do not have a favorite bible.

Everyone has a Story to Tell

Each bible tells the story of where I was or am currently in my faith journey. People are like those bibles. Everyone is on a journey and they have a story to tell. Part of the journey is to listen and encourage people on their journey. God is not a cookie cutter God. We are his creation. Look around, all the plants and animals are not the same, so why should we be the same? I have a faith journey and God has blessed me with gifts, talents and abilities. If God has done that for me, then I have to know that He has done that for other people as well. God sees no distinction in humanity because of His Son’s blood. God doesn’t see through the lens of rich or poor, black or white, but I believe God sees lost or saved. God extends grace and mercy to all people. Scripture says that before the creation of the world God chose us to be his sons and daughters. That is the only qualification we need to receive grace and mercy. Hopefully we begin to see the picture that God’s unconditional love, that he showed through the person of Jesus, is also the example we should follow as believers.

Demonstrating God’s Love

Luke, in his gospel account, shares the words of Jesus with Theophilus. Luke explains a story Jesus shared with his disciples about how to treat people. There was a man who was robbed and left for dead in a ditch. A priest walking down the street and notices the man and his condition. Upon a closer look, he moves to the other side of the street and walks past the man in need. As the Levite notices the man, he too, moves to the other side of the street and leaves the man is his deathly condition. Now enters the Samaritan into the story. This guy was someone that is not supposed to be liked and if we think our current day race issues are overwhelming we should study the racism between the Jews and Samaritans. So, after some investigation, the Samaritan puts the badly beaten man on his donkey and heads into town. He buys a night’s stay at the local motel and begins to care for the victim he found on the roadside. He cleans his wounds, pays for an extra night’s stay and tells the inn keeper if there is any other expenditures he would be back to pay them. Who is this guy and what an example? Jesus challenges his disciple to see people how He sees people. Humanity would see all sorts of excuses, but I think we can begin to see that loving Jesus means that we are going to have to love others.

Photo by Rob Bates on Unsplash

We are not the Hero

I was sitting in church and my pastor began a new sermon series on Hosea and Gomer. In our traditional way of thinking, we always want to put ourselves in the position of Hosea. We want to be the hero in every story. However, my pastor challenged us all to look again and put ourselves in the position of Gomer. At first glance, we never want to admit that we have those types of problems. But upon further investigation, it was easy to see how we turn our back on God to pursue things that are not Godly. I am so thankful that God is a God of unconditional love and pursues me despite of my flaws. I found myself searching scripture to find verses on how to live out the Christian faith. The book of James is where I landed. James had the perfect example of how to live out your faith. His example was his brother Jesus. James, in the first chapter of his epistle, talks about how our faith can be tested and the results of that test. As students, we all hated tests. As a teacher, we realize it’s not particularly the test itself but the results of the test that matter. James gives us the some encouragement that the test helps us produce perseverance.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. –James 1:2-3

Consistency

James tells us it’s not a matter of if, but when the test happens; it will help develop our faith. So, I turned to find the definition of steadfastness. By explanation, steadfast means that you have consistency in your life. For me, in my own personal walk, it can be difficult to have consistency. I also think that the test helps us produce endurance in our journey. Endurance, by definition, is the ability to do a difficult task for an extended period of time. I began to notice a theme of consistency and endurance. I don’t know about you, but living out the Christian faith is a difficult task over an extended amount of time.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. –James 1:4

Through the Trial

James would challenge us to not look at the test itself, but the results. How incredible is it that after the test we are matured in our spiritual journey? In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells the disciples to follow him you have to deny yourself daily. Paul would write in Romans that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character and character produces hope. To challenge our traditional way of thought, maybe we should not look for God to deliver us from a trial/test, but let Him redeem us through the trial/test.

Photo by Steve Halama on Unsplash