Without Favoritism

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

WITHOUT FAVORITISM

Acts 10:34-38

34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 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.

NIV

Having come to the understanding that Cornelius having been prompted by the Spirit, wanted to know what Peter had to say about God. He begins with his new revelation and understanding that indeed God does not show favoritism. The other realization is that God accepts all men from every nation that fear him and do what is right. Here is where various doctrines have gone in different directions, looking to doing what is right, or good deeds, as a method of being accepted by God. Certainly, doing what is right is about, first, accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. God offers salvation to all men. The Jews were of the opinion they were the only nation that was chosen by God, which leads to the doctrine of election, which is not what Peter is saying at all. Doing what is right is about the character of a man, who accepts the offer of God, who is open to the things of God, and is not so self-absorbed that his thoughts and deeds are motivated by his character seeking self-gratification and self-aggrandizement. Cornelius shows us that he was a man of character who feared God, and as a result, he did good to other men. This is how we respond, by doing good toward other men. That may appear in various ways. However, this doing what is right only carries that meaning of being of the right mind and spirit toward God and accepting Jesus. That is by far the only right thing a man can do. However, if we take that doing right toward men, then we must do that without showing any favoritism whatsoever, as James so elegantly puts it in his warning about how they treated men who were dressed in fine clothes differently than those who had nothing. No, if God does not show favoritism to who he offers salvation then neither should we. God does not care if a person is wealthy, how much education he has, or what position in life he holds, rank and privilege have no bearing on God’s offer of salvation. All people who hold any contempt toward God, or have not accepted his offer yet, are still living as descendants of Adam, excluded from the garden, the paradise of God. However, if a person responds to the prompting of the Spirit and fears or reveres God, which leads to accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, they become a descendent of Abraham, receiving the promise of God, and given eternal life. This offer is extended to all of his creation and thus we cannot see people through the lens of our bias or perceptions based on their rank, riches, or appearance. Sometimes, it seems we all want to hang out with those who are just like us, and we get into that, “Us four and no more” mentality. We divide ourselves by our status in life, our portfolio, or our level of education, and maybe many other factors, when in fact we are all that same, sinners saved by grace, who one day will leave all we are and all we have and all we ever hope to be behind in this life, as we step into eternity. There we will all stand with equity before God, and so perhaps, just maybe we could live with equity, seeing all people, without favoritism.