With people, there is a difference. We cannot have our favorite people around us all of the time even when we hope they could be. This is stalking and can get a person in some serious trouble. As parents, it is a dangerous thing to have a favorite child because what will the other children do to compete for attention or did we all forget the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors? We can have a favorite speaker in church, only won't that cause us to judge all of the other speakers that the pastor invites to teach? We can have a favorite in friends. We call them our best friend because he/she knows us so well and is there to support us no matter what the endeavor. Those friendships we cherish and hope to have through out the rest of our lives - only those relationships are too few and far between with as many people there are on the earth. If only I can get through this post with the glass completely full. Right now its sounding pretty bleak.
I was thinking about the subject matter wondering what the verse meant that God is no respecter of person (Acts 10:34 AMP). What does that mean? He loves us all just the same? So why does it seem that some people have more favor then others?
You mean that God has absolutely no favorites? Then why is David called a man after God's own heart? Why was Pharaoh's heart hardened when the scripture states that God can turn the heart of a king? Why did Job lose everything when he was a priest and could have received instruction to have a different outcome? Is there favoritism in the scriptures in God? Was Jesus the favorite?
Speculation would have people thinking all sort of things, but there is only one way to get the real answers. It is in the bible.
If one was really interested to know if God has favorites, one would have to do some serious investigating into the Word. He is not a man that He should lie nor a son of man that He should repent (Number 23:19 AMP). Therefore, we would have to rely on the verse that He is no respecter of person as being the truth. It just doesn't have to stop there. We know that it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6 AMP). In order to receive, we have to believe. Now, if I were to answer the questions above based on faith, we have our answer. Can you see it? David wrote most of Psalms and he was noted as one who was a keeper of the sheep. As he was out in the field guarding what he was assigned to, he studied, thought and meditated on God and wrote poetry and song with Him in mind. Who else did that? Who does that now? Was it favoritism that David became king or was it the blessings of God because of what David did secretly (Matthew 6:3-5 AMP)?
Pharaoh was not a believer. He had idols and expected answers from stone, wood, or metal. Moses was assigned to do a task and had many excuses as to why he couldn't do it. This sounded much like Adam blaming the woman for the fall, the woman blaming the serpent, and the serpent had no one else that could speak. Did God need to be reminded of that? Wouldn't it tick you off just a tad even when you brought your child out from disaster over and over again? Where is his faith? Ah, can you see it now?
Job expressed fear much like Moses. Only Job being who he was in the community as he reminds his friends, he thought he could do something about the unknown iniquities of his children even before they do anything. He then began atoning for sin that was never confessed. It was an action based on fear. This action caused him to lose everything he had. God originally blessed him and Job's action of fear rather then faith caused him to lose it all.
As I studied to see what is pleasing in the sight of God, I pondered over the prodigal son. The youngest son squandered his inheritance while the older son stayed and did what he was told. When the younger son returned after realizing his mistake, the father commanded for a festival to welcome him back. The oldest son seemed jealous that his obedience was never celebrated. As many times as I heard this preached and I have read again and again, I still sympathized with the oldest son. I understand the celebration, it is what all of heaven does when there is one soul saved. It is written that the good shepherd will leave the ninety-nine to get the one sheep that left the fold (Matthew 18:12-14 AMP). Its that same jealousy of the older brother of the prodigal son that caused Joesph to be sold into slavery. Its the same jealousy that shows immaturity in the Spirit. Its jealousy that keeps us from getting all that God has for us. While the oldest son could have been pleased for the return of his brother and have fun in the festivities, he more then likely sulked.
If we would keep our entire focus on God, we should then find the things that would be pleasing to Him. We know its impossible to please Him without faith. Did you know that He receives pleasure in the prosperity of His servants (Psalm 35:27 AMP)? Why then would Jesus tell the rich young ruler to sell all he has in order to follow Him (Matthew 19:16-24 AMP)? Wouldn't He have been pleased at the young man's wealth? Question is, how did this ruler get his wealth? Was it by the instruction of God, by his own hand, or given to him with no effort from him at all? Let's test it. Sell all you have. If you know how to obtain wealth, you will get it again. He was rich and young and more then likely was given an inheritance too soon. If he has the faith, then there would be no problem with giving all he had to the poor (Proverbs 19:17 AMP). If he asked to follow the Lord, then he would have no issue in doing what the Lord told him to do. He did have issue with it, for he went away grieved. It is one of the saddest parables in the bible and still one of my favorites to use.
Those that study and believe in the power of prayer have favorite scriptures to use. Why are they favorites? The Word has different things to different people. We don't all go through the same things at the same time. While the 23rd Psalm is what people used as children to memorize in an Easter pageant, it still has impact to a senior citizen born and raised in the church pews. Personally, I cleave to the verses that have practical application. I like the suddenly impact. In studying about following my Lord and Personal Savior, I couldn't help but to see the similarities with His ministry and the things that David did when he was assigned to care for the sheep. Do you see where I am going with that idea? So in answering if Jesus was the ultimate favorite... I would have to see that God called Him His only begotten Son and He said David was a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22 AMP). He blessed Abraham as the Father of many nations and used Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. He told Joshua to be strong and courageous and said to Saul that he was head and shoulder's above the rest. Mary is favored as well as Esther. All of these people are in the lineage of Jesus and if you believe to receive, you are as well. So I would think that if you wish to also be pleasing in the sight of God with an adjective that would have you beaming for the rest of you life - why not just ask? He's waiting to hear from you.
No comments:
Post a Comment