No Favoritism in God’s Family

The very people we are tempted to dismiss are often the ones God chooses to use in powerful ways.

THIS WEEK’S BOLD STEP DEVOTION

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.”
(James 2:1)

Imagine two people walking into church at the same time. One appears confident and put together, while the other looks unsure and a little out of place. Without a word being spoken, something stirs in us, and before we realize it, we’re already deciding who we feel drawn to and who we keep at a distance.

In James 2, we’re gently but firmly warned about favoritism. In biblical times, wealth was easy to recognize because people wore it in gold rings and fine clothes. James paints a picture of a rich man and a poor man entering the same gathering and exposes how quickly we can judge based on appearance. The moment we do that, James says, we put ourselves in a place we were never meant to be. Scripture goes on to remind us that God shows no partiality, and every person we meet carries His image and immeasurable worth, regardless of who they are.

If we’re honest, favoritism still slips into our lives today, often without us noticing. It shows up in the assumptions we make, the people we overlook, or the quiet distance we keep from those who feel different from us. Jesus knew what it meant to be on the outside, and He came not only to reconcile us to God but to bring us back to one another. James reminds us that the very people we are tempted to dismiss are often the ones God chooses to use in powerful ways. One day we will all stand before God, and when that day comes, I want to be found leaning toward compassion. This week, let’s choose mercy by moving toward someone we might normally overlook and offering them the same grace we so deeply need ourselves.

Bold Step Challenge:
Ask God to gently reveal where favoritism may have crept into your heart. This week, choose mercy on purpose. Notice someone you might normally overlook and take a step toward them with kindness, curiosity, and honor.

Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank You for the mercy You have shown me again and again. Soften my heart where it has become guarded or judgmental. Help me see people the way You see them and respond with compassion rather than assumptions. Teach me to live with humility, grace, and love, just as You have loved me. Amen.

Listen to the sermon: series title here

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Ministry Update from Mark

Awaken Worship Night at Moody Bible Institute this past January was unforgettable. As I looked out at a room filled with young adults hungry for God, I was deeply moved by what the Lord was doing among us. Led by the worship team from my church, New Life Community Church, the night was marked by heartfelt worship, prayer, and a shared longing to encounter God.

Moments like that remind me that the headlines don’t tell the whole story. Beneath the surface, God is stirring something unexpected, especially among Gen Z men who are asking deeper questions and finding their way back to Jesus. That’s the heartbeat of my Quiet Revival podcast, where I sit down with leaders witnessing this movement up close.

What struck me most that night was the unity and spiritual hunger in the room. I left grateful, encouraged, and confident that God is moving powerfully in the lives of this next generation.