Tag: favoritism

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A Level Place

Daily Reading

Luke 6-7

Daily Thought

A guy in a suit, pointing at a beggar on the side of the road, crowed, “There but for the grace of God go I,” and I privately wondered if he was more proud he was not than humbled he could be.

Yehiel Dinur had survived Auschwitz and was now a witness against Adolf Eichmann, who was on trial for the millions of Jews he had slaughtered. Dinur entered the courtroom, stared for a moment at the butcher Eichmann, then collapsed on the floor and left the room sobbing. “Were you overcome with hatred,” a reporter asked, “staring at the face of evil incarnate?” “No,” responded Dinur. The Eichmann he saw was not a demon, but an ordinary man. “I was afraid about myself. I saw that I’m capable to do this … exactly like he. Eichmann is in all of us.”

Love your enemies. They are not unlike you. “Love your enemies, and do good, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36). 

The more mindful I am of my sin, the more amazed I am at God’s grace.

A crowd of people gathered to hear Jesus, “and he came down with them and stood on a level place” (Luke 6:17). A level place, no orchestra seating, no balcony, no cheap seats, everyone side by side, rich and poor, high society and low, righteous and unrighteous–a level place. “Blessed are the poor, the hungry, those who weep, those who are hated and reviled. Woe to the rich and those who have a full stomach, those who laugh and are spoken well of” (Luke 6:20-26). He was lifting the humble and warning the proud. Jesus has a way of doing that.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, Help me see others with Your eyes, with Your heart. Help me see myself that way, as well. I know how much You love me. I need to remember how much You love those I see as enemies. You died for all of us, not because of any merit, but because You are love. I need the same humility and the same sacrificial attitude.

May I become more and more like Jesus Christ, who, for the grace of God, became like me, so that I may see God and become like Him.

Amen

Daily Question

Are some people better than other people? Why or why not?

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Playing Favorites

Daily Reading

Genesis 43-45

Daily Thought

Jacob, knew the sting of favoritism, “Isaac loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob” (Genesis 25:28). His father had preferred his brother. Favoritism produced pain and division, yet, Jacob, when it was his turn, chose a son to favor, as well. “Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors” (Genesis 37:3). Indeed, the sins of the father visit the children to the third and fourth generation (see Exodus 34:7).

After Joseph was gone, Jacob promoted Benjamin in his stead. The favorite’s chair continued to be filled. Even Joseph played favorites; “Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs” (Genesis 43:34). 

The chain would be broken, at last, by way of humility. Judah, one of Joseph’s brothers, chose to be last instead of first. When Benjamin’s life appeared to be threatened, Judah offered his in exchange, “Please let me remain instead of Benjamin as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers” (Genesis 44:33). Judah offered his life for the sake of his brothers and his father. True greatness is never first in line. Serving and sacrifice always get there before it.  

Joseph appears the hero of the last dozen chapters of Genesis, but God’s Son, the Servant King, would descend not through the favored line of Joseph, but through a different son, a servant. “Jesus…the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham” (Luke 3:33-34). Serving others is in God’s DNA.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Daily Prayer

My God, what humility from the King of kings and Lord of lords. We don’t rule that way, but our Creator does. How pompous we are, the desire to be first reigns in our heart. Yet, the One who is truly First places Himself last, in the role of servant.

I have learned from Your Son, my Savior, that to be first I must be last, as well. That You shine through me when I love and serve others. May I be one who follows You downward, emptying my own pride, and replacing it with love and sacrifice.

Amen