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“For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2:11 (NIV)

Sandy beaches and cool breezes. Starry skies and late night walks. Hallmark movies (and yes, I know they’re predictable) and anything chocolate. These are a few of my favorite things. Bet you’ve got a list too! We love our faves. Why? Because we find comfort, pleasure, stability and joy in our faves. Even if it is only temporary.

Having favorites over what we like to eat, do and watch isn’t a bad thing – truth be told – we all have them and that’s the nature of our individual preferences. But favorites with people doesn’t exactly serve us well. Growing up I witnessed this first hand – when the choosing of favorites created competition and comparisons. Snapshots still vivid in my memory bank. Trigger points I witness with others reigniting those feelings of “less than” or “not enough.”

Scripture unfolds the riveting story of those choosing favorites. Issac loved Esau; Rebekah loved Jacob (Genesis 25:28). Parents who desperately wanted a child allowing the double blessing to divide their home. Interesting how generational wrongs tend to repeat the pattern is not broken. Jacob loved his son, Joseph more than the other eleven (Genesis 37:3). Heartache, suffering, lies and deception followed all because of picking favorites, loving one over the other. Family dynamics totally wounded and destroyed.

Despite our tendency to choose favorite, God doesn’t. There is no secret list inside the pearly gates before the throne of God dictating His favorite ones. God so loved this world – everyone in the world – that He gave His only Son to die on the cross for All the world. Not just an exclusive offer or select few. There is no favoritism when it comes to our Holy God. No one is excluded from His invitation. No one has been left off the list.

Regardless of what this world offers us, favorite or not, God loves us immensely. His love is wide and deep enough to wrap His arms around us All. We are treated equally (Romans 2:11) and God doesn’t entertain bribes (Deuteronomy 10:17). The perfect place where stability, joy and belonging thrive.

So where does that leave us in the midst of all our faves? As imitators of our Father, we strive to love others the way He loves us (Ephesians 5:1). We welcome all to His table just as He welcomed us. We set the table with love and embrace differences. We resist the urge to think “less than” or “not enough” because we’re breaking the patterns that don’t serve us well.

“Father, You have set the example for us – love always wins; favoritism always wounds. Forgive us for those moments when we allow our preferences to prohibit us from loving All.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life