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Daily Recharge
Mal Fletcher
No Respecter Of Persons
26 April 2024
1 Peter 1:17 'Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.'
One of the most striking things about the ministry of Jesus, is that he showed no signs at all of being moved one way or the other by people's status. It didn't matter if he was speaking to a lowly blind beggar who scraped out a living from other people's small change, or a highly respected teacher of the religious law who came to him at night seeking answers about eternal life. He always dealt with people in an even-handed way. He was never swayed from speaking the truth -- not by money, position or reputation. He demonstrated in everything he did that God is no respecter of persons. Following in Jesus' footsteps, we should treat people the same way. We should not be partial toward the good-looking, the talented, the elevated or the wealthy. We should not be disinterested in the less pretty, or the poor, or the lowly. If we live our lives with a healthy sense of reverent awe for God, which is what it means to fear him, we will be sure to see each individual around us a little more as he does. Our words and actions will not be weighted according to the earthly status of others, but according to their position under God, in whose eyes we are all very precious and equally needy.
Prayer: 'Lord Jesus, please help me today to see others more like you do. Help me not to elevate one person over another simply because of their earthly success. Help me in a practical way to love each one equally, as you do.'
© Mal Fletcher 2003-2004
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