Galatians 2:6. And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.
Think together: Have you ever met someone famous or very important? Did you give them special treatment or attention?
Read together:
Paul has come to Jerusalem to talk about the gospel. Of course, while he was there, he met some pretty important people: Peter, James, and John. They knew Jesus personally. They lived with Jesus and heard him teach. They saw his miracles and performed miracles themselves in Jesus’ name. Most importantly, they saw Jesus die, and they saw the resurrected Jesus. Wow! I don’t know about you, but I would be starstruck if I met the Twelve Disciples of Jesus. But not Paul. He seems quite unimpressed, really—“What they were makes no difference to me.”
Is Paul being proud? No, Paul is being free in Christ. Paul knows that “God shows no partiality,” so he won’t either. We live in a world where showing partiality (favoring some people over others) is simply what we do. Famous people like movie stars, singers, and athletes get preferential treatment all the time. Social media sites like Instagram and TikTok are all about showing partiality to people. Getting “likes” is our way of saying that someone is more important. Even in our everyday lives, we have friends whom we like more than others. Do you have a BFF? What does that make everyone else?
Why do we idolize people, even other Christians? Why do we listen to people online rather than the people who really know us and love us? Why do we only hang out with those who are like us? Why are we constantly trying to impress some people while avoiding others? Why do we show partiality when God never does?
Because we are not living from our freedom in Christ—that’s why. We are slaves to the sin of partiality. But life with Jesus removes all partiality and favoritism. Jesus frees us up to love and respect everyone the same. And Jesus frees us from trying to impress everyone. When God is pleased with you, you don’t need anyone else to be.
Do something together: Have everyone in the family make a list of the famous people who influence them. Why do we listen to these people?
Because of Jesus: We are loved equally by God.
With Jesus: We can love and respect everyone the same.
Pray: Father, I know that you don’t play favorites. Help me to make sure that I don’t do that either. I know you love us all the same. Amen.
