BBD 05.13.03 No Partiality
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05.13.03
No Partiality
Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no
partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness
is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel,
preaching peace through Jesus Christ - He is Lord of all. - Acts 10:34-36.
.but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew
first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. - Romans
2:10-11.
But from those who seemed to be something - whatever they were, it makes no
difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man - for those who
seemed to be something added nothing to me. - Galatians 2:6.
A study has been released which was conducted at the University of Oslo
indicating there is partiality with sentencing of criminals. The apparent
partiality is based on a person's appearance but in this study those
surveyed did not actually see a photo but read the words "handsome" and
"pretty" describing the person to be sentenced. The five hundred university
students surveyed were harsher in their sentences for individuals when the
words "handsome" and "pretty were not used in descriptions of those to be
sentenced. Criminals with an appearance that was described as "handsome" or
"pretty" would have received sentences 20% lighter if they were actually
sentenced by the students. In more severe crimes like murder the more
attractive had a 10% advantage. Per Schioldborg who is a psychology
professor at the University said, "We put in a simple word and found that
the attractiveness stereotype was activated."
It is a fact of life in most societies that the attractive individual has
many advantages including advantages in regard to employment, educational
placement, social life, and more. We as human beings have a natural
inclination to be partial in our relationships and interactions with others
over a broad spectrum. Most of us have been on the receiving end of one
form or another of partiality by others. Usually such partiality when
experienced in the negative is not very pleasant and sometimes affects
people for life.
The good news is that God is not a respecter of persons or that has
partiality based on certain qualities that a person may or not have. Luke
records this in the Book of Acts and Paul observes that this is true of God
in his letters to the Romans and Ephesians. But there is even more good
news in that God can supernaturally remove our prejudice or discriminatory
partiality from us. We see this happening with Peter who Luke records has
his heart changed about the Gospel being for Gentiles (those not Jewish) as
well as for the Jew. The Scriptures record only one relapse for Peter
(Galatians 2:12) but he was confronted about this by Paul and it appears God
once again convicted Peter about this issue.
Do you have partiality toward some individuals over others? Do you harbor
prejudice in your heart toward those who may be different from you? Allow
God to change your heart!
Copyright © 2003. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited.
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