Wednesday, April 27, 2011

God Has No Favorites

"God shows personal favoritism to no man."

Galatians 2:6

"She's the teacher's pet." Most of us have probably heard that statement at one time or another. It obviously means that a school teacher has a favorite student in the class. That implies that the favored student would get special attention and privilege. Not so with God. He has no favorites. We speak of Israel as God's chosen people, but what does that mean? God chose that nation through the covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give us the Scriptures, the covenant promises and the Messiah, also known as Christ. They had a responsibility as a nation to be the light of God's mercy to all nations (Isaiah 42:6).

The prophet Jonah refused to see God's concern for people everywhere. When God called him to go to Nineveh to preach to Gentiles, he rebelled. You know the rest of the story. Jonah reluctantly went to that place to preach. The people repented and God had mercy upon them. Jonah didn't like it a bit. He pouted with God. The Lord showed that He has no favorites when it comes to His mercy. God's desire is that "He might have mercy upon all" (Romans 11:32). That's for Jew and Gentile, all nations, for God has no favorites.

God loves you regardless of who you are or what you've done. You are not His favorite, because He has none. His love is toward all. His mercy is offered to all, even to you and me. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son . . ." (John 3:16). The world includes all nations of people everywhere. The world includes you. Believe in God's love and mercy. Receive His love for you through Jesus Christ. God has no favorites.

Prayer: God, we receive Your great love for us through Christ. May that same love cause us to love all people, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.