My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. . . . If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
James 2:1,8-10
Love Without Favoritism
Daily Devotion – August 28, 2022
Devotion based on James 2:1,8-10
See series: Devotions
How can you love someone without showing favoritism? It is easy if you only have one person to love. But when two or more people enter into the equation, it becomes difficult. Do you love your siblings equally? Do you love your children or grandchildren equally? Do you treat and respond to all your friends in the same way? Or do you find yourself enjoying time with some more than the others? Favoritism can strain and even damage relationships.
The problem is that we are inclined to love those who love us. Jesus’ love is very different. He loves all people and does not show favoritism. He demonstrated his impartial love by sacrificing his life for the sins of everyone, not just a few. He chooses us to be his followers and heirs of eternal life, not because we deserved it, but because of his great love.
Embracing us with his love, Jesus leads us to love people in the way he loves them. Our Savior teaches us to love without favoritism. As his believers, we learn to love everyone. We do not consider some people more worthy of our love than others. And let’s remember that when we love people with Jesus’ kind of love, we will surely have opportunities to tell them about the love of Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, keep me from showing favoritism. Rather, instill in me a desire to love all of the people in my life the way you do. Amen.
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