If you are watching world news, you know that many nations are deeply divided. During the covid-19 crisis, dividing lines have become more pronounced. But God wants unity. In the book of James we find instruction on how to be unified.

James 2:1 begins again with the words “My brethren.” Who is James addressing? God’s people—His Family.

“My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” (James 2:1; Revised Standard Version).

Sadly, this world is based on persons respecting persons. That partiality is the curse of mankind! It causes endless problems. People discriminate on the basis of wealth, privilege, sex, race, education, culture, talent—any number of things. I’m a good-looking person, and they’re ugly. I’ve got class, and they have none. I don’t like that person’s race.

Those problems are a direct result of a failure to understand God’s Family. God says the problems of the world will never be solved until we learn about family!

Understanding the Family of God clarifies everything!

We must set an example for this divided, hate-filled world. In understanding God, we should show people how to unify the whole world as one man, with the mind of Christ!

We must not forget our goal to bring the whole world into God’s Family!

That is the only way this world will ever be unified.

The Laodiceans have done the opposite. They have joined the hopeless world that cannot solve its problems.

How can you be a slave to the Father and Son (James 1:1) and discriminate against one of God’s potential sons in the world? How could you discriminate against one of the firstfruits who is even now a son of the Father and a brother of Christ, the Lord of glory?

You won’t do that if you view God’s Family, or those who have that potential, as God does.

Look at this spiritually: This is God’s Family! And those in the world are potential God Family members. Understanding the God Family clarifies it all. All humanity has that potential.

God’s people must be an example to the world of showing no partiality, and treating each member of Christ’s Body with honor. That way of life must begin within the Church because God wants it to reach every corner of the world! “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Hold to the Head, Jesus Christ, and then reach out to all those within God’s Church, and then everyone in the world, as we have the opportunity.

God wants His Church to “dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133)—to be of “one spirit” and “one mind,” “likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 1:27; 2:2)—to “speak the same thing,” with “no divisions,” “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). He wants His people to be “as one man” (Ezra 3:1). That is truly deep Family unity!

James really emphasizes this truth. He is showing the Laodiceans how much they have lost, and how much they are going to have to recapture in order to make it into the eternal Family of God! They must get back to the Family understanding.

Probably within a decade, God’s people are going to be teaching the world about the Family of God! This world desperately needs that Family education. That is what God wants to give it most of all.

For more on this subject, request my free booklet The Epistle of James.