Oh boy, what a way to start this blog off with a bang! So my idea for this “Sermon Reflections” theme is that I’ll share with you what really stuck out to me in the sermons I hear at my church, and hopefully they will be meaningful to you, too. These posts won’t be an exact recollection of the sermon my pastor gave, but rather some thoughts that God has put on my heart as a result of hearing the message. I also have Bible study twice a month on Sunday evenings with a few friends and family members, so I’ll probably be tying in points from those studies, too. I think it’s really amazing how God places certain people, songs, Bible verses, sermon topics, You Tube videos, etc. into our lives just when we need them the most – either to convict us, to teach us, or to encourage us. So here’s what God knew I needed to learn this week…

Follow along with these verses!

• Deuteronomy 10:12-22
• 1 Samuel 16:7
• Luke 6:30-36
• Acts 10:34-35
• James 2:1-13
• Genesis 1:27
• Matthew 5:44

Alright, it’s sermon recap time.

The sermon this Sunday was about how showing favoritism to certain people and having true faith in Jesus really don’t mix – and here’s why. First of all, we look to the Lord as our example. In Deuteronomy 10:12-22, Moses is proclaiming to the people of Israel about the greatness and justness of God. I love what he says in verse 17:

For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.

Deuteronomy 10:17 NASB

God does not show partiality. God loves all of His children so SO deeply – more than we could literally ever imagine! He provides for the poor, the widows, the orphans – He doesn’t just leave them alone to fend for themselves (Deut. 10:18-19). The Lord doesn’t judge us based on how poor or rich we are – He looks at our hearts and our intentions (1 Samuel 16:7; Acts 10:34-35). Can we say the same? Generally not. I don’t know about you, but my unconscious tendency is to look at someone and instantly make judgements as to what kind of person I think they are just by their physical appearance, occupation, body language, sense of style, etc. Back in Moses’ day and even Jesus’ day, people tended to show partiality to those in rich garments over those in beggar’s rags. Do we maybe show more favoritism to those who can give us a gift in return? Those who can pay us back for that coffee we spotted them for? Those who will be kind to us in exchange for the kindness we’ve shown them (Luke 6:30-36)? It’s all well and good to show kindness to these folks – but are we turning down opportunities to show the same kindness to others? Now, the first thing that pops into my head is that I can’t just fly to the opposite end of the spectrum and only be kind to and provide for the needs of those who can’t or won’t pay me back. Wouldn’t that still be showing partiality because I’m ignoring the “rich” for the sake of the “poor”? The Bible says God shows no partiality. The rich still need help – just maybe a different kind of help than the poor do. Anyway… I guess my point is just that I was convicted about these unconscious judgements I make about people and how that affects the way I treat them. James 2:1-13 speaks on the sin of partiality, as well – yes, it’s listed as a sin!

But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

James 2:9-10 NASB

The Lord says, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18 NASB). So if we’re showing partiality – or favoritism – to some people at the expense of others, we really are sinning against the Lord! And as James explained in the above passage, even if we’re keeping all of the other commandments in the Lord’s Word, if we’re not showing love to others as we should, we’re guilty of breaking the law. I like to think about it like a piece of spaghetti (bear with me here). What happens if you snap that piece of spaghetti in half? It’s broken. What if you just snap off the tiniest piece of it? It’s still broken. Even if we think we’re just committing a “tiny sin” by harboring partiality in our heart and not loving people the way we should – we’re still breaking God’s law.

Okay, so to wrap up this post with a bang – let me hit ya with something that really solidified this message in my head and pulled on the strings of my conscience (I know the phrase is “pulled on my heartstrings”… but again, bear with me).

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:27 NASB

Okay, so… all human beings are created by God in the image of God. In God’s image. Just let that sink in for a hot minute.

I’ll wait.

Like… WOAH. After all the amazing, incredible, intricate things God created, He decided He wanted to invent human beings. On top of that cool thought… He decided to make them in His image. At my family Bible study on Sunday night, we were watching a video series by Andy Stanley on how all of the books of the Bible came together to be the Bible as we know it. I just want to paraphrase a thought he shared in the second episode of that series. The value and dignity of all humankind was established at the very beginning when God made them in His image; therefore, every man, woman, and child you meet bears the image of God. Be careful how you treat them. That just shook me up. My new goal is to look at every person I come into contact with and think: “God made this person in His image. They have been given value and dignity by God – who am I to devalue them or show them partiality based on my judgement of them?” Every human being deserves respect because God has given them value. God has made them in His image. Babies at the moment of conception all the way to the elderly on their death bed. Those who are kind to you and those who abuse you. Those who share your convictions and those who mock you for them.

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…

Matthew 5:44 NASB

Anyway, this Sunday’s sermon and Bible study has really convicted me to look at people differently. To look at them the way God looks at them. To treat them the way Jesus treated them when He was here on earth. Obviously, I’ll never get close to that level of perfection – but that’s why Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth to pay the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross and rising from the dead three days later. We will constantly fall back into our old, sinful, human habits – but God has given us the example of Jesus in His Word to guide us back to the truth time and time again. When we put our faith in Him, He cleanses us by the blood of Jesus and we are made perfect in His sight! Let’s live out His commands and follow His example out of humble gratitude for what He has done for us.

He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.

Deuteronomy 10:21 NASB