Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

It’s hard to misunderstand what James means there. Partiality – don't do that. The phrase at the end of the sentence, though, "the Lord of glory," carries some extra weight to James’ simple and straightforward command. If Jesus, the King of kings and the only Lord worthy of glory, clothed Himself in humility, why would I, a sinner saved by grace, dare to elevate one person over another? And yet, if I’m honest, I see it in myself more than I’d like to admit. Maybe not in obvious ways, but definitely in subtle ones: gravitating toward people who make me feel comfortable, people I “click” with, people who can give something back. (That last example is tough to write!) Meanwhile, others get less of my attention, less of my presence, maybe even less of my love. 

James paints such a vivid picture—a wealthy man in fine clothes walks into a gathering and is ushered to the best seat, while the poor man is told to stand in the corner. I want to believe I’d never do that. But if I slow down long enough, I realize partiality sneaks in through quieter doors. We make assumptions about someone’s worth, judgments based on appearance, status, or ability to contribute. It’s not always spoken, but it shows up where my eyes linger, where my time goes, where my heart leans. 

And James doesn’t treat it as a minor issue. He calls it for what it is, a sin against the Lord of glory. He says showing partiality makes us “judges with evil thoughts.” Strong words, but necessary ones. Because favoritism is more than bad manners, it’s a denial of the gospel. Jesus didn’t die for the influential and the powerful; He died for the weak, the outcast, the sinner. He died for me. If His mercy is wide enough to cover all, how dare I narrow it with my judgments? 

James closes this section with a reminder that cuts deep and heals at the same time. It may be my favorite verse in the whole letter.

"Judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:13.  

That’s the call. To let mercy win in the way I treat people. To remember that in Christ’s kingdom, seats of honor don’t belong to the wealthy or the powerful. They belong to the humble, the overlooked, the poor in spirit. 

So I’m learning, slower than I would like, that faith that works doesn’t just pray for wisdom in trials. It also pays attention to how I treat the person right in front of me. Faith that works refuses to play favorites, refuses to judge by appearances, and instead chooses mercy. Because mercy is the way of Jesus. 

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.

SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?

OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?

APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?

PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.