INTRODUCTION

It is unfortunate when the world steals a biblical principle and twists the truth by perverting it to satisfy its own wicked ways. According to the Bible, no man is to be respected above another person in a form of unrighteous judgment (Leviticus 19:15Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
See All...). This truth was never intended to infer nondiscrimination in every matter. Instead, the idea was to keep people from being persuaded to “wrest judgment” (Deuteronomy 16:19Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
See All...) because someone was “great” (Deuteronomy 1:17Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.
See All...), “proud” (Psalm 40:4Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
See All...), “poor,” or “mighty” (Leviticus 19:15Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
See All...). Furthermore, no one was to discriminate because someone was well-off financially (James 2:1-6 [1] My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. [2] 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; [3] 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: [4] Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? [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?
See All...; Deuteronomy 16:19Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
See All...). After all, it is a sin to judge upon any grounds other than the truth of the word of God (Proverbs 24:23These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
See All...; Proverbs 28:21To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
See All...).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): God's laws are for everyone (Leviticus 24:22Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.
  See All...). Many judges were wicked, had favourites, and took bribes (1 Samuel 8:1-3 [1] And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. [2] Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. [3] And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
  See All...; Isaiah 1:23Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
  See All...; Psalm 82:2-4 [2] How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. [3] Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. [4] Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
  See All...). They will not get by with this (Job 13:10He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
  See All...). Paul warned Timothy to judge without partiality (1 Timothy 5:21I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): Can you think of some times in scripture when God discriminated? How is that different than what the Bible warns against when it says not to respect persons in judgment?
• How do we have to be careful as Christians when it comes to  respecting persons (James 2:1-7 [1] My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. [2] 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; [3] 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: [4] Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? [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 not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
  See All...)? What happens when we fail to heed the warnings of scripture (James 2:9But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
  See All...)?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to help you take His mind on respecting persons.
• Ask the Lord to keep you from the world’s corrupt philosophies.

HYMN

FOOTPRINTS OF JESUS

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