"you Don't Owe Me Any Favor":

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."