Thought for today: Does God favor one person over the other?
According to the Bible, God loves everyone equally and does not play favorites. Romans 2:11 states, "God does not show favoritism".
The Bible also states that God favors obedience, not people. God's favor is the grace of God in our lives, and it means acceptance, goodwill, and unconditional love for all. That means we can't earn favor and are never entitled to it. Our performance has nothing to do with salvation. That puts us all on equal ground for salvation.
Naturally, it may appear that God may favor one over the other, but it is not God's desire that any should perish. Not even one. He came to Earth to save, even if there had been only one person on Earth. He would have gone out of His way and onto the cross, to save even one of us, had it been necessary. He loves everyone and He wants everyone to be in heaven with Him.
If you have noticed with your friends, you feel closer to some than you do others, yet you still love the others. It's just that you get out of a relationship, what you put into it. You are naturally going to feel closer to someone who truly loves you and wants to spend the time with you and puts in the time with you, but that doesn't mean you love the others any less.
God absolutely loves fellowshipping with us and our lives are so much better when we can fellowship with Him. When we can keep our focus on the things of God, instead of all the hurt and pain in this world. God wants to comfort our hearts and give us hope. He is our only safe place in this world; and truly our only hope. Jesus came into this world to save all who will allow Him to. Not just some. No one will ever love us like Jesus and he proved it on the cross. He turns no one away.
It is my hope and prayer that you will accept His great love and forgiveness, and cultivate your relationship with Him. Different denominations and certain religious spiritual groups, have no meaning, and mean nothing without Jesus. Religion never died on the cross to save us from the condemnation that sin brought to us all. The person of Jesus did. That's why it is called a personal relationship with God.
God ALREADY loves you! You have to do nothing to earn His favor!
It is not about taking from God or selfishly asking Him for things, just so we can acquire things. He deserves more respect than that. After all, Jesus gave his ultimate best for us on the cross, sacrificing His own life, just so He could save ours. For there's no other name under heaven, whereby we can be saved, accept through Jesus, by His grace. Acts 4:12
And what is grace? UNEARNED favor from God. It is a gift from God, for the asking and He turns no one away. There's always room at the cross for you. We can be very thankful to God for that, for no one else can save us, and no one else even attempted to try.
