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When it becomes a sin

 

James 2:1,9 (NLT)
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?…if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin…

 

I was a Senior in High School and my father and I were running errands on one of those blistering hot Texas afternoons. 

He looked at me and said he needed to stop by one of his “watering holes”. 

My life was already “pointed” toward ministry and my personal convictions were moving away from some of my father’s personal practices. 

Dad wasn’t asking me to share a beer just share his company. Today, I would have no problem with that – but that day I took offense.

We sat down at one of those little round tables under the glow of neon beer signs while the jukebox was playing a country and western favorite. I felt as if I was being asked to rob a bank or something.

When Dad discovered that one of his favorite barmaids was not there disappointedly, he said, “I really wanted you to meet my friend.”

My flippant response was as self-righteous at it gets, “I am sure I wouldn’t want to.”

My father sat his drink down, looked me in the eye and replied with a question that wasn’t really a question, “I thought Jesus loved everybody?”

I have never forgotten that bar room epiphany. 

Yes, Jesus does love everybody…the same. 

No favorites. 

You or me, sinner or saint, rich or poor, famous or unknown – He loves us. 

He loves us regardless of skin color, religious practices, where we were born or where we live. 

He loves us each and every one…the same. 

He doesn’t play favorites.

Nor should we.

 

Devotional by Gideon’s Cousin. Can be reached on Facebook at @gideonscousin