No Partiality ... None (Galatians 2:4-6)

Today’s scripture: Galatians 2:4-6

As I meditated on these words and prayed for the Spirit’s words for you, I realized I could focus on a couple of things: false brethren bringing us into bondage; not yielding to those speaking lies; or making certain the gospel remains in us.

But what really caught my eye and touched my heart were the words, “God shows no partiality.”

Stop a moment and read over those words again. “God shows no partiality.” None.

We tend to revere those who are smarter or richer or more talented than we are. Somehow they seem to be better or greater. Even in the Christian community, we look at those such as Billy Graham or Beth Moore or Charles Spurgeon or Paul, and think they’re more spiritual than we are or are closer to God.

God doesn’t see us that way. He doesn’t look at how famous we are or how much money we’ve donated to worthy causes. He doesn’t care if our name has been on the cover of countless books or if we’ve had our own radio or television show.

He cares about our heart. He cares about our motives. Just as Jesus commended the widow for giving all she had (Mark 12:41-44) or the tax-gatherer for his sincere prayer (Luke 18:9-14), God esteems us when we sincerely seek His will. When we give sacrificially—and quietly. When we use the gifts He’s given us to serve Him and others.

Our society—especially in the United States—looks at status, at bank accounts, at notoriety. However, God looks at hearts, at service, at dedication to Him.

It’s comforting to know that God loves me as much as He does anyone else. And He loves you just as much!

Not Good Enough? (Galatians 1:13-14)

Today’s scripture: Galatians 1:13-14

Have you ever thought you’re not “good” enough to be used by God? Maybe you’ve done things that shame you when you think of them. Or you deliberately turned away from God in rebellion. Or you’ve made choices that hurt you or others.

How can God use me? you think.

Guess what? None of us is perfect. All of us have our flaws and failings. And yet God chooses to use every one of us in His plan.

Paul persecuted those who chose to follow Christ. And he did it zealously, hoping to wipe this new faith off the map.

Yet God transformed him and used him mightily.

I made choices that led me on a twenty-year journey away from my faith. I very consciously chose to follow my own path and shook my fist in the face of my loving Father.

Yet God welcomed me back with open arms and gave me the blessing of serving Him through speaking and the arts.

We do not—none of us—deserve God’s grace and mercy, and yet He offers them freely. And no matter where we’ve been, no matter what we’ve done, He will use us as He builds His kingdom.

How amazing!

A Nobody (2 Corinthians 12:11-13)

Today’s scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:11-13

Paul, the writer of the majority of the New Testament, deliverer of wisdom, faithful servant of God, could very well have boasted regularly about how God used him. Yet one of his most visible attributes is his humility.

I believe he never forgot what God had done for him. He had actually, literally persecuted Christ’s followers.

When we first meet Paul, he’s supervising the execution of Stephen. Before he meets Jesus, he wants nothing more than to wipe out this new movement following the upstart Nazarene. He’s on his way to Damascus when, as the Bible says: “Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2).

Then he meets Jesus: “As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting’ …” (Acts 9:3-5).

It’s easy to see why Paul would call himself a “nobody.” And I totally understand his humility. Even after Paul showed such hate towards Jesus and His people, Jesus lovingly saved him, and God used him in amazing ways.

I too am a “nobody.” I turned my back on God for so many years, choosing to live, not to honor Him, but to fulfill my own fleshly desires. Yet, when I came back to Jesus, He welcomed me with open arms.

And I too am being used by God. It’s enough to make me fall on my face in humble gratitude.

What an amazingly gracious God we serve!