April 16 Devotion

Easter Morning
God Has No Favorites

Acts 10:34-43*

Peter tells us in the Book of Acts that God has no favorites. Why do we in 2006 attempt to tell others that God has favorites, and the way we believe is what makes us his favorite? Why have we, the "Christian Country", become the divided country? Why have we become the nation that proclaims to one another and the world that they are lost? Have we lost our way? Have we lost the Easter message? Do we need to hear the words of Peter anew and fresh? Can we hear the words of Peter? These are the questions that surface as I read the text.

Peter proclaims that God has no favorites. He proclaims that Christ was the designee to be the "judge of the living and the dead." Peter states, "It is to him that all the prophets testify, declaring that everyone who trusts in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." What a grace filled message. It is a message of mercy and acceptance. Yet because of social issues, we are torn as a church and a nation.

We are forever succumbing to the temptation to proclaim what God does or does not like, what God wants, or if God approves of certain issues things, or actions. We name the sin and condemn those who participate in the sin. Drinking, drug use, gambling, sex outside of marriage, living together outside of marriage, divorce, homosexuality, liberalism, abortion, rock and roll, movies, short dresses, cleavage being shown, wearing jewelry, dancing, and working on Sunday are just a short list. Some of us may look at items on the above list and laugh. Some of us may even participate in some of the items on the above list. Yet I would submit that if one item on the list is a sin, then they all are sins. We cannot pick and chose our sin. Just as we cannot pick and choose who is in the kingdom of God and who is not.

Did Jesus just come for the Red or Blues states? Did Jesus just come for the liberals, conservatives, or fundamentalists? Did God issue membership cards and tickets to get into heaven? I am so glad that God is not human. We humans will mess up any system put into place that relies on sharing, mercy and grace.

On that weekend thousands of years ago a mystery happened. A mystery that I must admit boggles my mind. I am limited in my understanding of the events. I am limited in my understanding of the whys and wherefores. I am limited in my understanding of who is in and who is out. I just have to trust Peter's understanding and God's intention when Peter proclaimed, "that everyone who trusts in him (Jesus) receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

On this Easter Sunday, it is my trust in God that allows me to hear and believe the story without worrying about a list. My need for forgiveness is much greater than anything that is on a list. What about You?

*The New English Bible - 1970

Rev. David Johnson

Easter Evening

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

We demand signs and beg for wisdom in a world filled with adversity, diversity, knowledge, skills far too great to discern into the single greatest achievement of our time, and yet we are among the most uneducated in our faith and our ability to develop the tools our Heavenly Father has given to each soul. Each soul is the undiscernible creation of GOD. Each soul is the masterpiece of his design and yet none of us feel like a masterpiece, not many of us place our design on display for the world to admire, to appreciate, to develop from the talents our sculpture created Today, this is the lesson of our world. We must discern that each soul is a gift far too precious to waste. We must look at every face in our congregations and our daily view and see nothing short of a masterpiece. The early writers of scripture were wise in their choice of words when speaking to generations. Heed that knowledge. Know that you are a masterpiece and place your soul on display so that others of us in this world may learn, appreciate, and develop from the creations of our Father... the master designer.

As we pray, Thank God for the masterpiece beside you and most importantly the one inside you.

A Fellow Masterpiece,

Stephanie Geneseo