I have plenty of favorites. Favorite teams, favorite foods (pizza), favorite music and favorite people. I choose my favorites whenever I can. Looking around you might be tempted to say that God plays favorites as well, but the Bible tells us otherwise.

In writing to church members in Rome Paul stressed that God treats both Jews and Gentiles the same. Those who are self-seeking, reject the truth and follow evil reap wrath, anger, trouble and distress. Those who do good find glory, honor and peace—first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.

While that sounds only fair, God’s refusal to play favorites is actually quite extraordinary. No one is born deserving a higher caste, no one buys esteem or inherits it. We gain God’s favor, or his disdain, all on our own.

God favored us with the sacrifice of Jesus. He grace and mercy extends to anyone who accepts it. We are all his favorites, and have to work to lose that status.

Like flowers budding in the spring, Paul’s line—God does not show favoritism—reveals hope. In our world of striving and posturing and playing for the likes, it’s comforting to know God above see through all that. We’re one of his favorites, and we should not be afraid to move toward him.

Romans 2 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Diego Marín