Favoritism

We should not be so narrow-minded against those who God loves and calls us to reach out to.

Acts 10.23b-48

Reference:  v.34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realise how true it is that God does not show favoritism." (NIV Bible)

Explore:  When I was growing up, my mother was my Sunday School teacher.  At the time I didn't think it was all that cool but now, as I look back, I realise that my parents were running a miniture bus ministry where they would pick up the local children before church and lead them in Sunday School classes.  I distinctly remember one day we were learning about Noah's Ark.  My mum had a picture of a rainbow and each child in the class was invited to colour in one band of the rainbow.  There was one hiccup however, there were eight children and only seven rainbow colours required.  I was totally shocked and mortified when it finally came to my turn and my mum skipped over me and allowed the rest of the children to colour in the rainbow.  I couldn't believe that my mum had allowed her very own child to miss out on something so important!! (OK, so colouring in a rainbow may not seem important to you now but I was about 8 at the time!)  Of all people I thought Mum should show favoritism to, it should have been me.
But now I realise that Mum was showing the other children an important lesson; Mum was showing that just like God she did not show favourites, even to her own blood!!

Application:  It's so easy to show favoritism to those you connect with best.  And yet this realisation for Peter that God loved the Gentiles as well as the Jews was mind blowing for him.  It also teaches us that we should not be so narrow-minded against those who God loves and calls us to reach out to.  We need to constantly be reminded to push aside personal preferences and look at all people through the eyes of God.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for loving me.  Help me to love all people as You love them.  Amen.

Acts