Favoritism is Sin

Elevating one person above another is a sin. Practicality is condemned by God.

Those who use the excuse that God loved Jacob and Hated Esau do not understand the meaning in the original language. When God spoke of loving Jacob and hated Esau in the womb He was describing two nations, not two individual people.

Jacob represented Israel and Esau represented the pagan nations of the Arabs.

James 2:1 "“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory."

Cliques in church gatherings are arrogance and disobedience against God's Word.

1 John 4:20-21

"If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also."

Authentically Born Again or Pretending?

I have heard "Christians," say, "my sin was not so bad as the sins of others", as though that makes them superior. I am here to tell you that no born-again believe who came to Christ in brokenness over their sinful nature and has been changed by God would never even joke about this matter. They would know repentance brought them to a place of humility without an attitude of superiority above anyone else.

Romans 3:23

"23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

No born again believer can remain angry and vengeful after God changed them into a new creation. Those who elevate themselves and others they choose to elevate above others have never been changed into a new creation by Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

1 Peter 2:9

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

No born again believer would ever be full of pride to the point of looking down their nose at anyone else.

As born again believers who have been changed by Christ care nothing about being elevated above others, rather we desire for others to find forgiveness as we had to be forgiven through admitting our sinfulness and trusting in Christ to change us.

Those who never thought they needed forgiveness, elevating themselves as good people because of their deeds, or should I say deeds that others could see while hiding their unrepentant hearts are not born again.

This is why God said in His Word; Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

The hardest people to reach with the gospel are those who have attended church all their lives, learned the right things to say and do, thinking that was giving them salvation because of how others viewed them but never saw themselves as wretched sinners in need of the Savior. These people are very proud of themselves and feel superior to others. These are those who will not see heaven.

When a person has been changed by Christ through their confession of their own wretchedness they will want to glorify Christ not themselves.

Romans 8:17

"And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

Adrian Rogers: The Authority of the Holy Spirit #1950

Past Forgiven Sins are Gone Forever

To hang onto guilt about past forgiven sins is the same as not believing God when He said He forgives those who repent and their sin is gone and forgotten.

If anyone wants to hold past forgiven sins against us they should not be allowed in our circle of friends because only the devil would perpetuate something that no longer exists.

John 8:44

"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning

1Peter 5:8

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

2 Corinthians 11:14

"And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Those who listen to the gossipers about our past forgiven sins are in league with the devil and enabling the gossiper. Wicked people enjoy believing things about us that are not true, it makes them feel superior. Their judgment is coming if they do not repent of their hatred.

Gossipers will make guesses about others based on their jealousy and desired belief about them to elevate themselves, they are wicked and not worthy of response or attention.

James 4:7

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

2 Timothy 2:26

"And they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will."

Amen!!!

Lady and Sparky Enjoying the Beautiful Day on the Porch

Narcissim by Gwendolyn Wehage

Count it all Joy!!!!

We desire happiness, health, wealth and lots of friends who love us, but this is not real life for most born-again believers.

When we are going through a Job experience we can remain faithful to the Word of God allowing His principles to carry us through knowing He already knows our plight and has the answers.

And most of all our trials allow us to learn good lessons from all the difficulties we must endure. The lessons are more important than getting what we want our own way.

James 1:2-8 "2 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Praise God He is coming for His church soon.