No Favorites

"And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So, you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as "foreigners in the land." I Peter 1:17 - 2:10

Every once in a while, I hear this statement from one of my children, "Dad, we all know that ______ is your favorite." The accusation is followed with some kind of evidence that they feel makes a compelling argument. The truth is they are all my favorite and there is different evidence to support that reality for each one. Vantage point is the issue. Granted, I have certainly been guilty of inconsistency of behavior, but not of heart. I would die to defend any one of them.

One of Jesus' closest friends, Peter, writes that the heavenly Father has no favorites. He is never inconsistent in his behavior or his love. His assessment of and his response to the behavior of his children is perfectly accurate every single time. He spared nothing to rescue us from an empty life with no promise and no future. The ransom payment for our freedom was the blood of his only begotten Son, Jesus. So now, we, by believing in Jesus, have been cleansed from our sins. Our responsibility now? Love each other deeply.

As I read this passage, it strikes me that we are all God's favorites. He sent Jesus for all of us. All who trust in Jesus recognize the honor God has given him and he becomes the cornerstone of not only their lives personally, but of the whole collection of those who believe. Those who refuse to recognize him with honor stumble over him and meet a fate planned long ago. Which one are we? The tell-tale sign is a life that is lived in such a way that it shows others the goodness of God.

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