Quote:
Originally Posted by Amos
Sis,
I don't know Bullwinkle, but I doubt if his intention was to hurt your feelings.
Of course you are important to Him and worthy of His time.
He simply tried to point out that Jesus, while often among the multitudes, did take out times where He was alone, or else with only a few of His inner circle.
The nice thing about the New Covenant is that since He went away and sent the Comforter, we can all have access to Him at any time.
And while I think the Scripture will bear out that He does indeed have "favorites," it also makes it clear that anyone who is willing to seek Him and walk in His ways can be one of them.
He is no respecter of persons, but He does respect hunger, faith, and obedience.
If you or anyone else is willing to make Him their number 1 priority, I can promise you that you will have His favor.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MissBrattified
God doesn't play favorites...but He does show favoritism. How's that for a contradiction? 
He gives everyone the equal opportunity to find Him, to spend time with Him, and then tends to pay the most attention to those who make that effort.
God is no respecter of persons--but He IS a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. I paraphrase the verse for my kids like this: "The sincere prayer of a man who does right is important to God." Notice it doesn't say that MAN is more important [than any other]--but that his PRAYER "availeth much." |
Believe it or not, my problems in this area are
not with God. We've actually gotten pretty tight these past 6 months or so. Especially compared to the anger and dislike that I had for the past 2 years.
I know that I've blamed alot of my experiences on the UPC (and no matter what anyone thinks, the first church I attended was seriously unhealthy, and the second only a little better), but the truth is, I was headed for disaster the second I walked into church.
Between my authoritarian alcohol Father who's approval was impossible to attain, and who never let me forget how truly worthless I was at a human being, to my older sister, who convinced me for 30 years of my life, that I totally and completely inadequate in everything I attempted.
So I walked in believing I was nothing, and though I came to believe on some level that God loved me, truly I never stopped fearing that eventually he would realize his mistake and turn away. And the fact that I ended up in a congregation that was taught that God was waiting to smite you for the smallest infraction....
So I had a lot to work through, and I think that i have come along way. And I am really happy with the relationship that God and I now have....
But I confess, when someone hits that trigger, I am suddenly that little girl again, abandoned by her Mother, belittled by her Sister, and abused by her Father, and I tend to do now what I couldn't do then...which is fight back.