God is Impartial - Part One

Having been an adoptive parent for 23 years (three times, actually), I always marvel at people who say (thankfully, only a few), "How many of your children are YOURS?  Yes, I know you have five children, but how many are YOURS?" That seems like such a peculiar question to ask - at the very best, odd - and at the very worst, thoughtless.

On the same "starting line" in my family stand all five of my children, regardless of age, ability, or by what channel they entered our family.  I was truly blessed to carry two wonderful biological sons to birth, but I was also truly blessed to have God say, "Susie, I chose you to be the adoptive Mom for Mary Grace, Annah, and Vivie.  My two always-loved biological sons are as much a part of the family of five as the three adopted girls - and vice versa.  No favorites, no special ranking, no "She loves you more because you're...."  As the mom to Eric, Nathan, Mary Grace, Annah, and Vivie - my love to each of them is equal and undying.  I carry a heart of devotion toward them all - no exceptions and no exclusions.  Period. 

Time cannot change the love I have for all my "children."  Distance between modes of contact (personal visits, phone calls, letters, emails, texts, instant messaging, skype chats) cannot lesson the love or thoughts I have for each child of mine.  If one is out of contact for a time, that does not lower the "love ranking" for that child.  If one child is always attentive, that doesn't move him or her up to "number one spot."  Any conflict between me and one of my children cannot lessen the love I have for that child. I love them all - and will hold them all in my heart forever.


Eric - First Child - March, 1972






Annah - Fifth Child - October, 2006

 













With that said, I marvel at the same trait in God. I wonder how God could love the thief on the cross as much as he loved Jesus, His only Son.  I'm in awe when God answers a sinner's prayer after a hard, cruel, destructive life and moves that redeemed one to the front of the class, to sit next to "Teacher's Pet."  How can it be?  How can God extend that Hand of Forgiveness at the last moment of life to one, embracing the forgiven one with the same loving intensity as the embrace of a lifelong devoted follower of His?  How can it be?

One familiar supporting verse to believers is John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."  The verse doesn't say, "whoever, except for those who skid in (to belief in Jesus Christ as Savior of mankind) at the last possible second of their life." Another supporting verse that God is impartial is Romans 2:11, "For God shows no partiality." 

Personally, the concept of unconditional love (toward me) is a challenge to understand.  However - personally, the concept of unconditional love for each of my children - well, that's much different.  "Of course!" I say, "They are my kids!  Of course I love them without condition or favoritism!"

And so says God - to all of us.  He loves us and yearns for an intimately close relationship with us.  Get to know your Heavenly Father better today.  He loves you without reserve.  God has no partiality.

Bible Verses:

• John 3:16    "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
• Romans 2:11   "For God shows no partiality."
• Acts 10:34   ³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
• I Peter 1: 17-21    ¹⁷ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. ¹⁸ For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. ²⁰ He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God."

Hallelujah - what a Savior!
Susie

God is Working

Today has been such a wonderful day!  Having a holiday for Columbus Day, the day filled with work at home doing the usual (laundry, cleaning, cooking) and the seasonal (canning apple butter).  Of course, the day was interwoven with twin five-year-old daughters playing about, coming in and out and chatting.

This was a day off from work – and yet a day of working at home.

I love these days!  I love the freedom to pick and choose from the long list of “to-do’s,” designing a pliable, moldable schedule.  Nowhere to be – nowhere to go – just the nest-building, nest-primping activities of a “homemaker-at-heart.”  One thing this “homemaker-at-heart” loves to do is home canning.

To help store the canning for the winter, I looked on Craigslist a while ago for a small antique-y cabinet to fit in our kitchen.  Cupboard space in our small kitchen is minimal and it’s always fun to find a practical item for a “good deal.” After purchasing a jelly cupboard that was just right, I went to work canning fresh blackberry jam, dill pickles and pickled green beans. Now that apples have come into season, this weekend we continued our yearly family tradition of making spiced apple butter.

Today was the last of the apple-butter-making project.  It is such a sense of accomplishment to stand back after completing this enjoyable task and look over the finished product! 

As every day, several times today my thoughts turned to God. First of all, I thanked God for this day off. But even more than that, I thought today of how God is always at work. He is always helping, always comforting, always teaching the teachable, always loving, always extending a hand of mercy, and always speaking truth.  I truly rest in that!  Knowing that God is always at work gives me security and such joy. 

And also, there is a work God has done that is finished.  Jesus spoke his final words on the cross, “It is finished.”  (John 19:20)

As Mathew Henry Commentary so poetically stated,

“It is finished; that is, the counsels of the Father concerning his sufferings were now fulfilled. It is finished; all the types and prophecies of the Old Testament, which pointed at the sufferings of the Messiah, were accomplished. It is finished; the ceremonial law is abolished; the substance is now come, and all the shadows are done away. It is finished; an end is made of transgression by bringing in an everlasting righteousness. His sufferings were now finished, both those of his soul, and those of his body. It is finished; the work of man's redemption and salvation is now completed.”

Do you know God?  Do you believe in the finished work that Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross?  Do you know how God works to draw you to Him? 

Verses from the Bible:

Romans 8:28          “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,    who have been called according to his purpose.”

Philippians 2:13    “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Knowing Him,
Susie