INMERSO

No Favorites in God

It is interesting to observe the variety of people that exist, from our skin color to the language we speak. God in his infinite wisdom created us all in his image and likeness and at the same time diverse. Within that variety we exist and it is beautiful. Many times in the midst of the diversity of the church we find people trying to decipher who God's favorites are. This is something that happens and it is important to understand that for God we are all equal and his love does not change according to the person, his color, nationality or any other attribute.

God is a loving being and wants to be loved. His love is unconditional and pure. The plan outlined from the beginning of creation is universal. We are all invited to receive that love in the same capacity and without limitations. It all begins with accepting Christ as the only divine savior. It is the main step to be able to start enjoying that incomparable love. After this step we begin to develop a personal relationship with Jesus.

Like any relationship, our relationship with Christ requires time, commitment and loyalty. These three areas are essential to develop and maintain intimacy. This is where the difference is made between Christians and it is the reason why many wonder if God will have favorites. Why does this person seem to receive more blessings than others? Why does it seem that I can't grow in certain areas of my life and others can?

The difference lies in how close we are to God, how intimate we are with Him. That time of intimacy fills us with a confidence and certainty that we can say as Nehemiah in the following quote:

And the king granted it to me, because the benevolent hand of my God was upon me. Nehemiah 2:8b

What was there in Nehemiah that he could declare with such certainty in that way?

When we analyze this character closely we can find some very applicable characteristics to our lives. So let's see what it takes to be able to feel that the kind hand of God is on us:

1- Nehemiah was a man with purpose in his life. Even outside his country and exiled, his fidelity to God never changed. Far from his people and acquaintances, he maintained his integrity as a servant of God in all the environments in which he lived. While he served the king, he did it with commitment and dedication. Always looking to do and give the best of him.

It is necessary to have that integrity and purpose. Know that we belong to the Lord and that we must behave in the same way when we are in church and when we are in public. That we are called to be examples and not be ordinary. That we are servants of God called to be ready to serve at any time.

2- His priority was prayer. Through those moments of intimacy with God, Nehemiah approached the heart of God and was able to know God's feelings and plans and be an instrument to develop them. God showed them to him because Nehemiah prepared to meet God.

3- He was a man of faith. Because of his closeness to God's heart, he could live in confidence. God had never abandoned him and never would.

4- He was obedient. His heart was surrendered to absolute obedience, he did not make decisions on his own without first presenting himself to God and seeking his direction and when God clarified his purpose he fulfilled it without hesitation.

5- He was diligent. He was industrious and at the same time able to share the tasks. Always looking for other people willing to work for God. It is important to know that God does not bless laziness, nothing good will come to the life of the one who does not diligently seek to do the will of God for his life. This does not mean being always busy in the church, it means knowing what talents we have and how to use them to bless others.

6- He was humble. Even knowing that God chose him to do an extremely important task, he looked for others and shared the blessing. He didn't let pride dominate him trying to keep everything under his command. He understood that the task was great and humbly used others encouraging them to serve.

7- He knew how to walk through pain. In his obedience he found enemies who tried to stop him and hurt him. The world will always resist the gospel but we must not bow to it. Pain is a tool that God uses to shape us. Yes, is we reject it, we are rejecting the love of God, since everything works for good for those who do God's will.

8- He gave all the glory to God. He knew that only through God was he able to reach the goal. That attitude attracted others and what began with a single man became an activity of an entire town. Through one thousands received blessing.

Every Christian can live with the certainty that the hand of God is on him or her. It is a decision that we must make, it does not happen in inactivity. Let's recognize Christ as our savior and leader, not man. Let us surrender our will to Him and position ourselves to receive from Him, including pains and trials because He has given us His Spirit to carry out the divine plan for each of our lives.

For God there are no favorites, for God there are intimate and distant.

Do you want to know more about God's plans? Do you want to see God work in your life? Position yourself in the right place, near the heart of God. Look for him in prayer, in his word and with sincerity, He is waiting for you to reveal his plan and begin to change your life in an indescribable way.

I ask you, are you from the intimate or the distant?

It is time to make a decision.