"It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you're from-if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open."
"No sooner were the words out of Peter's mouth than the Holy Spirit came on the listeners. The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn't believe it, couldn't believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on "outsider" non-Jews, but there it was-they heard them speaking in tongues, heard them praising God."
Sometimes when we read the book of Acts, because it is in story form, we miss the application that is meant for our lives. Let's not miss this. God play's no favorites. He doesn't only choose the good looking, talented, and popular. God is willing to work through anyone who "lives worshipfully before God, helps others in need, and has the habit of prayer."
When this book was written, Jews did not associate with "outsiders." The Jewish people thought that they were the only race of people that were going to go to heaven. Jesus destroyed that thought, he was Jewish but still ministered and spent time with people on the outside of his race.
Now, after Jesus death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit is opening up the gift of salvation and speaking in tongues to everyone. This is the only reason that some of us are saved today. If you are not Jewish you should be really thankful for what is going on in this story. We were "outsiders" but now we are called insiders because God opened up this gift for everyone to be a part of.
Aren't you glad that God does not show favoritism?
If God does not judge people by their outside appearance, popularity, and talents do you think that we should? How often do you ignore someone because they don't fit in with your type of friends?
The bible says that the way we treat others, is the way He will treat us. That is a scary thought.
Is there someone in your life, that you need to start treating better? Maybe it's a kid in the lunch room, a girl on your basketball team, or someone you work with. God does not show favorites, do you?
4 comments:
I definitely find myself playing favorites. It is so hard, especially in the church not to play favorites. I think throughout our lives we are going to naturally click with some people and not with others but we need to learn to take a minute and spend time with the people we might not want to. God loves us all the same and we need to love everyone.
ya it is very easy in high school to show favorites and not want to hang with people you might not know as well. but like Josiah said we need to open up to others and respect them the same.
Playing favorites in highschool is def. easy. I can understand why because i am one. Sometimes you feel like if you talk to someone who isnt as popular or isnt as athletic, the person who is, looks at you weird. but the thing is we just need to not care about people judging us when we know were doing the right thing. We just need to focus on what God wants us to do.
yea, playing favorites is definately easy, and i know i do it. Its a really good thing that God doesnt play favorites, and i think that since he doesn't then we shouldnt either
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