Acts 10:34 - "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.'"
A Powerful Declaration
Church, let me tell you something that will set you free today: God doesn't owe you any favors, and you don't owe Him any either.
Now before you think I've lost my mind, hear me out. This isn't about diminishing God's love—this is about understanding the pure, radical nature of grace.
What Peter Discovered
Peter thought he had it all figured out. He was part of the "chosen people." He had the right lineage, the right traditions, the right credentials. If anybody deserved God's favor, it was Peter and his Jewish brothers and sisters. They had earned their place at the table through generations of covenant faithfulness.
But then God gave him a vision that turned his world upside down. And when Peter walked into Cornelius's house—a Gentile's house, a Roman centurion's house—the Spirit opened his eyes to a truth that would shake the foundations: God shows no partiality.
Not to Jews. Not to Gentiles. Not to Peter. Not to Cornelius. Not to anyone.
The Liberation in "No Favoritism"
1. You Don't Have to Perform for God's Love
Some of us grew up thinking we had to earn God's attention. Work harder. Pray longer. Give more. Suffer more. Prove ourselves worthy. We thought if we could just be good enough, holy enough, faithful enough, then maybe—just maybe—God would show us favor.
But church, that's not grace! That's a transactional relationship. That's a business deal. And God didn't send His Son to negotiate terms with you—He sent Him to redeem you!
When we say "God doesn't owe me any favor," we're declaring: I'm not in a bargaining position with the Almighty. I can't manipulate God with my good works. I can't guilt Him into blessing me because of my suffering. I can't demand anything based on my lineage or my service.
And hallelujah, I don't have to! Because His grace isn't something I earn—it's something I receive.
2. You Don't Have to Compare Yourself to Others
In the Black church tradition, we know what it means to fight for recognition. We've fought to be seen as fully human. We've fought to be treated with dignity. We've fought to have our worth acknowledged.
But here's the beautiful irony: with God, you don't have to fight for favor because He's already giving everyone the same grace.
God's not comparing you to the person sitting next to you. He's not weighing your suffering against someone else's privilege. He's not measuring your faithfulness against another person's gifts. He shows no partiality!
That means:
The single mother struggling to make ends meet has the same access to God as the wealthy businessman
The ex-convict trying to rebuild his life stands on the same ground as the deacon who's never missed a Sunday
The young person questioning their faith is just as beloved as the elder who's been saved for fifty years
3. Nobody Gets Special Treatment—And That's Good News!
Some folks hear "God shows no partiality" and get upset. They think, "Wait, I've been faithful! I've been in church! I've paid my tithes! Doesn't that count for something?"
Yes, it counts! But not because God owes you. It counts because faithfulness transforms you. Your obedience shapes your character. Your worship deepens your relationship with Him. But God's love for you isn't contingent on any of it.
Think about it: If God showed favoritism, where would that leave the rest of us? We'd all be scrambling, competing, trying to be the favorite child. But God is too big for that petty human game.
The Historical Weight for Black Believers
Now, let me speak directly to us as African Americans in this room. Our ancestors knew something about partiality. They lived in a world where their humanity was denied, where the color of their skin determined their worth in society's eyes. They were told they were less than, unworthy, cursed.
But in the midst of that darkness, they held onto a revolutionary truth: The God of the universe shows no partiality.
They couldn't vote, but they could pray to the same God as the slaveholder.
They couldn't read, but the Spirit could speak directly to their hearts.
They couldn't own land, but they were co-heirs with Christ.
When they sang "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen, nobody knows but Jesus," they were declaring that while the world showed partiality, God did not. While society created hierarchies, God created a level playing field at Calvary.
That truth sustained them. It can sustain us too.
"You Don't Owe Me Any Favor"
This statement is powerful because it's a declaration of spiritual maturity and freedom:
It's humility: "God, I'm not approaching You with demands. I'm not bringing You my resume. I'm not listing my qualifications."
It's faith: "God, I'm trusting that Your grace is sufficient. I don't need special treatment. I just need You."
It's freedom: "God, I'm released from the burden of trying to manipulate Your blessing. I can rest in who You are."
It's dignity: "God, I'm not begging for scraps. I'm receiving the inheritance You've already promised to all Your children."
Living in This Truth
Stop the Comparison Game
If God shows no partiality, then stop comparing your blessings to someone else's. Stop wondering why they got the promotion and you didn't. Stop resenting their healing while you're still sick. God's not playing favorites—He's working all things together for good for all who love Him.
Drop the Entitlement
Some of us need to hear this: Your service doesn't put God in your debt. Your faithfulness doesn't give you leverage. Your suffering doesn't earn you extra credit. Come to God with open hands, not clenched fists demanding payment.
Embrace the Freedom
You don't have to prove yourself to God. You don't have to earn your seat at the table. You don't have to out-holy anybody else. The ground at the cross is level, and there's room for everyone.
The Invitation
The same God who met with Peter—the fisherman turned apostle—is the same God who met with Cornelius—the Gentile centurion. He shows no partiality.
That means He's meeting with you today. Right where you are. With all your brokenness. With all your questions. With all your history. With all your pain.
You don't owe Him any favor, and He doesn't owe you any either. But here's the miracle: He loves you anyway. Not because you earned it. Not because you deserve it. But because that's who He is.
Closing
So come as you are. Not because you're owed anything. Not because you've achieved anything. But because in Christ, God has opened the door to everyone.
Peter learned it in Cornelius's house.
Paul preached it to the Gentiles.
Our ancestors sang it in the fields and the underground churches.
And we declare it today: God shows no partiality.
That's not a limitation—that's liberation.
That's not rejection—that's radical inclusion.
That's not bad news—that's the best news we could ever hear.
Church, say Amen!
