In all your life have you ever felt like everybody else had it better than you? Like God's favor may be tips a little more to particular people than to you? I know I have! Friends have come over with great news of some impossible way God made things work out. We celebrate together and I am genuinely happy, though I can't help but think: Woah... What if THAT happened to me??? Wouldn't it be nice?
That train of thought easily goes down to "God, how come you never do stuff like that for me?! How come I never do anything powerful and newsworthy??"
ACTS 10:34 says that God is no respecter of persons. But what does that really mean? Because sometimes it seems like God does have favorites. I think it means:
1. God loves every man the same- which is unconditional. He loves me and you just as much as He loves Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Peter, Paul.. etc! Men (and women) that have greatly advanced the Gospel over the centuries: Smith Wigglesworth, Cathryn Kuhlman, Billy Graham... The "extremely" gifted and favored by God; He does not love them more than you and I. No. God's love does not prefer some over others!!
2. This means that we- God's children- are all blessed and favored by Him. Very often we look at other people, gauge their gifts, talents, success, life situations, and conclude that God favors them over us. We become envious because it really does look like God esteems some people over others. "Is God fair?"
In the Bible, God speaks to every individual saying, "I alone know the plans I have for YOU..." He promises that these plans are not to harm you and I, but to prosper us; to give us hope and a good future. Jeremiah 29:11. Every child of God is blessed, none greater than the other.
The key is that these blessings, gifts will manifest according to the Lord's (individual) plan for your life! Remember, He ALONE knows the [nature of the] good plans He has for you. Plus, how far are you willing to go to "decipher" these plans? The seemingly "more blessed" men are usually the guys that go the extra miles to seek God, know Him, then are able to manifest His power to the world.
3. God's standard of His Word is the same for all men. E.g. His Word does not hold me accountable for adultery and cuts another guy slack. He hates it, and that's that. The promises therein are for every believer to claim: healing, prosperity.. etc. Our greatest enemy in receiving them, however, is our own ignorance! The guy who knows that Jesus' death purchased divine health for him is the one whose faith won't let him tolerate sickness, but cast that mountain to where it belongs!
Our God is just, fair, and plans each of our lives way before our birth. He knows each of us INDIVIDUALLY. This thought is a great comfort when the unsettling envy begins to rear its ugly head.
That train of thought easily goes down to "God, how come you never do stuff like that for me?! How come I never do anything powerful and newsworthy??"
ACTS 10:34 says that God is no respecter of persons. But what does that really mean? Because sometimes it seems like God does have favorites. I think it means:
1. God loves every man the same- which is unconditional. He loves me and you just as much as He loves Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Peter, Paul.. etc! Men (and women) that have greatly advanced the Gospel over the centuries: Smith Wigglesworth, Cathryn Kuhlman, Billy Graham... The "extremely" gifted and favored by God; He does not love them more than you and I. No. God's love does not prefer some over others!!
2. This means that we- God's children- are all blessed and favored by Him. Very often we look at other people, gauge their gifts, talents, success, life situations, and conclude that God favors them over us. We become envious because it really does look like God esteems some people over others. "Is God fair?"
In the Bible, God speaks to every individual saying, "I alone know the plans I have for YOU..." He promises that these plans are not to harm you and I, but to prosper us; to give us hope and a good future. Jeremiah 29:11. Every child of God is blessed, none greater than the other.
The key is that these blessings, gifts will manifest according to the Lord's (individual) plan for your life! Remember, He ALONE knows the [nature of the] good plans He has for you. Plus, how far are you willing to go to "decipher" these plans? The seemingly "more blessed" men are usually the guys that go the extra miles to seek God, know Him, then are able to manifest His power to the world.
3. God's standard of His Word is the same for all men. E.g. His Word does not hold me accountable for adultery and cuts another guy slack. He hates it, and that's that. The promises therein are for every believer to claim: healing, prosperity.. etc. Our greatest enemy in receiving them, however, is our own ignorance! The guy who knows that Jesus' death purchased divine health for him is the one whose faith won't let him tolerate sickness, but cast that mountain to where it belongs!
Our God is just, fair, and plans each of our lives way before our birth. He knows each of us INDIVIDUALLY. This thought is a great comfort when the unsettling envy begins to rear its ugly head.
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