(Lesson 2197)(12-14-17)  James 2:1-9
   “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 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?
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?
But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

    This lesson clearly tells all of Christianity that we are to be NO respectors of persons. We should see the poorest of the poor just as we see the wealthiest among us.
    We should NEVER look down upon another person because of his or her outward appearance. We, who are conceived in sin and are unworthy to judge, can only see the outside of our neighbors, whereas, God, the ONLY righteous judge, sees everything about all of us. He sees inside our hearts, the only part that truly matters.~