For God does not show favoritism. (Romans 2:11, NIV)
I’m guessing you might find a couple of special parking places where you play golf. Many clubs set aside spots for their men’s and women’s club champions. It’s something of a perk for those who have earned it.
But what if you drove in and parked next to one of those spots today, just about the same time your club champ arrived? Then, from bowels of the cart shed and clubhouse, you see six and eight and ten employees come zipping out to get the champ’s door, to help her with her clubs, to assist her in tying her shoes, and to give her a ride right to the front door of the locker room. Meanwhile, no one seems to notice you at all. You open your own trunk, lug out your own clubs, and when you try to change your shoes in the parking lot, you get the shaking finger and condescending voice from the club manager: “You know the rules. Change inside.”
Under these circumstances, what that champ is receiving is no longer a perk, but blatant favoritism. And even though you pay your dues like she does, it makes you wonder if this is still the club for you.
Well, here’s good news: God is not like your club manager. His grace is available to all. In the context of Paul’s letter, this meant Jews and Gentiles alike. That is, the God of the universe, Creator and Lord, isn’t limiting his love or his salvation to a select people. He will respond to all who repent and believe.
And in other news: God doesn’t want us to be like that club manager either. In James’ highly practical letter, he set a scene wherein the people of the local church gave a special seat to a rich man while relegating the poor man to a spot on the floor. James had strong words for those who pulled such a stunt. He wrote: “Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:4).
It might be that we could write off James’ words to sentimentality or a bit of First Century liberalism. But James’ rationale was fully spiritual. He went on to ask, “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” (James 2:5).
So we must walk a road both of caution and of welcome. We must guard against our tendencies to favor the desirable first. Then we must be those who welcome anyone in the name of Jesus, just as Jesus himself would welcome them.
Believers arise from humble places, whether they be humbled by their circumstances or their sin. But remarkably, in this humility we may discover the favor of God. And here again we turn to James, who cited Proverbs 3:34 in saying, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble,” before adding his own exhortation: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10).
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Jeff Hopper
February 7, 2018
Copyright 2018 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.