Faith is placing our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to save us from the penalty of our sins. It is the necessary ingredient in our relationship with Him; unless we have it, we can’t see Him for who He is. Without it, we see only what the flesh sees. Jesus died to save ALL; He didn’t pick one type, or all types but one. He died that all might come to the Father through Him. There is no man or woman better in the sight of Holy God; there is no man or woman worse in the sight of Holy God.  Sin is a part of each one of us; therefore none can earn favor with God.

In the second chapter of James, he speaks to his brothers about the issue of favoritism. Please refer to James 2:1-9 in your Bible’s or look at the previous post which included these verses. Whether we like to admit it or not, we often play favorites. It has happened since the beginning of time. James addresses it, and we need to address it in our own lives as well. Why is it that we basically give more significance or attach more worth to some people than we do to others? Jesus never did this. He never held anyone in higher regard than another for any reason. We on the other hand, find reasons why this is acceptable.

Think about it for a moment. Aren’t you more drawn to certain types of people? Aren’t there some people you just don’t like to be around all together? What about in your own home? What about when you were growing up? Do you remember what it was like to be someone’s ‘favorite’? Do you remember what it was like to have someone you loved favor another over you? Whether we realize it or not, we are sensitive to partiality. We recognize the injustice of it quickly when it is done to us, but it is far harder to recognize it when we give it to someone else or to a group of others.

God is never partial and He calls us as His children to imitate Him. As His own, His character and ways are binding upon us. We can’t ignore the fact that each and every human being is the same in the sight of God. So what if the outside looks great? So what if the outside looks awful? What matters first is that God calls it sin if we show partiality. We are also being polluted by the world if we do this.

Friends, our goal needs to be the righteousness of God. His righteousness is not a factor if we prefer one brother or sister over another. We are human, and will stumble in this area, but through the Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit we must be diligent to change our glasses….or put some new ones on.  The eyes of Jesus must be ours. We won’t get them unless we give up our old way of looking at things and people, and we won’t get them unless we really want them. If we have them, this issue will be clearly settled.

For Today: Who is it that you don’t care for? Who is it that you can do without? These are hard questions. Apart from the Word, this isn’t a big deal. In light of the Word however, it is sin. The very one(s) that came to your mind are loved completely, totally, and passionately by God. They are loved in the same exact way as you are, and that is a beautiful thing. His love for us is not based on our performance, our upbringing, or our status; nobody is second best in God’s eyes. Today, lets purpose in our hearts NOT to hold faith in Christ with favoritism……it does not represent our precious Lord.

1 Samuel 16: 7b For the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.