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James 2:2-4

2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool," 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

This Sunday at church, if you could sit next to anyone in the world who would it be?
Maybe it would be a famous actor or actress?
What about one of the hottest singers on the charts?
What about the president of the USA?
Who is this person that you admire so much that you would want to sit next to you?

Before you answer let me tell you a true story.
This happened a few years ago in a church, at a Friday night youth group.
When the people where entering the church, there was a man lying at the entrance right in front of the door. This man smelled of alcohol and the streets. His clothes were all ragged and dirty. His face had not been shaven or even washed it seems in a month.
So what did these Christian people do? That's right, they walked around and over him never even stopping to talk to him.

Later that evening the youth pastor was doing a teaching on the Good Samaritan. At the end of his teaching he asked the people what should they do if they found a man lying beaten and robbed like the one in the story of the Good Samaritan. They all agreed that they would help out such a person.
After the talking about this was over, this man who was lying at the door came in. He removed his false beard and wiped his face. Only to discover that it was one of the youth pastors.
Each person hung their head in shame, because they knew they didn't do what they said they should do.

It's so easy to say we should do what the bible says to do, but do we really do it?
What if the person lying there was you and these kids or adult Christians walked around you ignoring you, how would you feel?

Back to my first question of who would you most like to sit next to this Sunday at church.
Here is a thought, why not ask God to place someone next to you that you can minister to. Someone that you can help out in any way, or just be there to listen and pray with.
Instead of thinking, "I'm sitting next to so and so. I hope every one sees me"
Sit next to someone that God sees and is pleased with.

Maybe you are the one who needs ministered to this week. Ask God to bring someone to sit next to you so that they can minister to you.
Someone who doesn't care what you look like, smell like or the way you talk or dress. Someone who just wants to be there for you.
You never know, God may have you sit next to an angel in either case!

Heb 13:1-2 (NLT) 1 Continue to love each other with true Christian love. 2 Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

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