10-24-2018

Good Morning All,

       Acts 10: 34-35; “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”

      “Mom always liked you best!” that is what Tommy Smothers always told his brother Dick.  If you are of the right age you remember The Smothers Brothers and their comedy show on television.  This line was always part of a standup routine that they would perform.  Tom would usually do something foolish and Dick would chew him out.  Then Tom would complain that Dick always thought he was superior to Tom and he thought that because, “Mom always liked you best” then he would give an example like Dick got a new bike for Christmas and Tom got an inner tube with a hole in it.  It always got a laugh.

     The problem with that is often we feel like this.  We think that we are usually second best.  There is something about us that is too flawed or too broken to be the first choice.  We are always on the “seconds” table or else we are in the “dented and expired” bin at the grocery store.  You may even think that your spouse has “settled” and your friends are more about pity than friendship.

    This is one of the great wonders of God’s love.  He loves all, even the dented and the seconds.  His love is for you and for me is the love of a dear Father for his dear children.  He would do anything to keep you as his dear children and he did.  Jesus died so that you and I, the dented and the seconds, would become the choice and the finest.  God’s grace is at work and you and I are the ones who benefit.

    Yet he plays no favorites; he loves us all the same with the greatest fatherly love ever.  So whether you are a king or a pauper, the beauty or the beast; Christ died for you.  He did this so that you would have eternal life with him.  He did this so that you would live in his benevolent kingdom.  He did this because he saw value in you.  He did this because, to him, you were never the second best or the dented; you were the one who he treasured. 

    It doesn’t matter if you sat in church every Sunday your entire life or you just started last week.  It doesn’t matter what you did, it doesn’t matter what you did not do.  What matters is that Christ died for you and that you are loved.  You are God’s redeemed child and because of this you are treasured greatly by your Father in heaven.  There are no seconds; there are no “back of the pack”; there are only the beloved children of God.  So we can all say “The Father loves me the best” because he does, each and every one of us.

Father, your mercies are new to me every day.  Your grace rolls over me like a river.  Help me to see that your love for me conquers all.  Help me to see that, by your incredible love, I am saved.  Be with those who feel like they are seconds and unloved.  Send your Spirit of hope and comfort to guard them and to restore them.  Nurture them with your tender care.  In the precious name of Jesus, our risen Savior, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret