No Favorites
Read This Week: Acts 10
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him. – Acts 10:34-38 NIV
Favoritism is human nature. From the time we are little, we learn to play favorites with things, people, places, and experiences. Having a favorite is not bad in and of itself, but favoritism regarding the value and worth of a human being over another is sinful, toxic, and does not reflect the heart of God. The Bible is clear that the Lord does not favor one individual over another when it comes to his love, grace, and desire for a relationship.
Acts 10 reinforces this truth about God and his acceptance of everyone no matter their background, culture, origin, or race. We see this in the practical yet powerful teaching of Peter. He had received a vision from God that he then communicated to the people. In his message, Peter makes it known that he does not consider the Gentiles to be unclean. For centuries, based on the law, the Jews had seen the Gentiles as lesser than, unworthy, and unclean. Some even referred to them only in derogatory ways. However, these walls were beginning to be torn down through the power of the gospel and the unifying message of Christ’s love for all.
Peter starts his sermon on the heels of his vision from God and from having fellowship with some Gentiles, most especially a man named Cornelius. He was ready to proclaim that he would no longer make any distinction or cast favorites between Jews and Gentiles. He says in verses 34-36:
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.”
God is no respecter of persons. When it comes to sin and salvation, there is no difference between people. We all have the same Creator; we are all made in His image, and we all need the same Savior, Jesus Christ who loves us and died for us so that we may be made right with God. Peter re-emphasizes this again in verse 43:
“Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
“Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness” stands alone as the greatest promise and truth for all of mankind to lay hold to and experience. It is the gospel for all. We, as humans, in our flaws and frailty may play favorites but, we can rejoice in the fact that God, in His eternal goodness, does not. He has no favorites.
In Reading Acts 10 this is what God what saying to me. I do not use you for ministry because you are perfect. I prefer imperfect people to use. I use you because you are in the right position and available. I will expand your mind and your heart if you let Me. I want you to become a light to others who do not know Me. They will follow the light to Me. Your blessings are greatly increased when you prepare yourself to hear My word. If you want to hear a good message come with a prepared heart.
When I look at people, I do not see color, economic status, nationality or ethnicity. I only see the heart. I am Lord of all and available to all! All people need to be saved by coming to a living faith in My Son, Jesus. This will unite all of you as brothers and sisters in Christ. Every member counts and I do not favor one over another. My grace is available to all, and when it comes to salvation there is no difference between people.
What this said to me is we all equally matter to God. We are all part of one body and each member matters. This chapter reminds me of the song Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. We are all precious to Him. We are to love each other and encourage each other. We are to be prepared and step out and follow Him wherever He leads.
This is such good stuff, Kathy. I love how you point us to the place God looks and values above all else – the heart. This is His perfect will and way for mankind. I especially liked this line and am grateful that this is how God sees us and the world when it comes to His mission and kingdom:
I prefer imperfect people to use. I use you because you are in the right position and available. I will expand your mind and your heart if you let Me.
This is such a hopeful truth for all of us as we seek to serve God and carry out His unique design for each of us as imperfect people following and worshipping a perfect Lord.
What treasures I got from Acts 10 this week! One is that salvation is not based on who you are or what good you do. What matters is that you want to be apart of the Family of God, you want to be saved from this world, when God is sharing the good news from someone you want to be listening and responding to what God is saying. We get to be apart of what God is doing! It’s a blessing for sure.
I love how Cornelius responded to God’s message through Peter! Even thou he was a God-fearing man and doing good he still needed to be saved, he shares that in Acts 11:14. He had a divine appointment and Peter had a divine appointment, they both listened and responded and it was blessed and it was good.
So, in life, I love to be apart of God’s divine appointments, that’s the treasures for me. Thank you, God, for all you do for everyone who responds to You and your gift of Salvation. I am praying for everyone to respond to You, Jesus, and to recognize that you are calling them to be apart of the family. I hope everyone will open up their ears to hear You. I am thankful that you never give up on anyone.
I just keep rereading this line in the context of your post, Heidi: So, in life, I love to be apart of God’s divine appointments, that’s the treasures for me.
It is an overwhelming thought sometimes to consider that a holy, eternal God would choose to allow us by his grace and good pleasure to be a part of His divine appointments. To be a part of these kairos moments, opportune times where something unexpected and special happens.
He uses us and makes these appointments available to all of us no matter who we are, where we come from, or our background. It makes it even more beautiful in His plan when we know and understand this truth.
This week, we are in acts 10, and God gave me a song called, “Walking with the Lord”:
Walking and singing, walking and singing
In the spirit of our Lord
We praise you, we praise you with our hands up high
We are living and spending time with our Lord
Who gives us strength, power, and peace
What a wonderful Father he is
Walking and singing, walking and singing
We are walking and singing with our Lord
Walking and singing, walking and singing
We are walking and singing with our Lord. Amen.
When we spend time and praise our Lord, he loves it. I know we fill his heart with joy. He is a good listener, who will help us through anything. He blesses and rewards his sheep. I am so thankful to Jesus.
I love this, Alma. What a joy to know that the God of the universe who needs nothing or anything, is blessed and loves it when we spend time with Him. It’s almost a thought too deep and overwhelming to process but it is nevertheless true. Thank you for reminding us of this beautiful promise of fellowship with our Savior.