1 00:00:02,650 --> 00:00:04,130 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,670 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We are so glad to 3 00:00:14,710 --> 00:00:18,150 Speaker 2: have you listening with us here today. Today's topic is 4 00:00:18,190 --> 00:00:22,570 Speaker 2: about the importance of avoiding favoritism. We will return after 5 00:00:22,610 --> 00:00:39,630 Speaker 2: a brief message from our sponsor. The Importance of Avoiding 6 00:00:39,690 --> 00:00:46,690 Speaker 2: Favoritism Written by Vivian Bricker Read by Rochelle Alberti Bible 7 00:00:46,729 --> 00:00:51,270 Speaker 2: Reading My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord 8 00:00:51,310 --> 00:00:58,500 Speaker 2: Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. James 2.1 Favoritism occurred 9 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 2: in my family as my dad's favorite was the oldest 10 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 2: child and my mom's favorite was the middle child. As 11 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 2: the youngest of three, I was never chosen as the favorite. Instead, 12 00:01:08,900 --> 00:01:12,180 Speaker 2: I was seen as the extra child. As one can imagine, 13 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,459 Speaker 2: this has caused me to have long-lasting problems, such as 14 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:20,729 Speaker 2: a negative self-view and low self-esteem. If you genuinely want 15 00:01:20,750 --> 00:01:23,429 Speaker 2: to obey God, you must give up the practice of 16 00:01:23,470 --> 00:01:27,610 Speaker 2: playing favorites. Favoritism only hurts your children and makes them 17 00:01:27,690 --> 00:01:32,550 Speaker 2: second-guess themselves. Studies have shown that the oldest child tends 18 00:01:32,630 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 2: to be the favorite, often because they are more like 19 00:01:35,300 --> 00:01:38,979 Speaker 2: their parents themselves. or take on more responsibilities than younger siblings. 20 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 2: It is time to change these statistics. There needs to 21 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:47,170 Speaker 2: be equal love for each child. Within the family of God, 22 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:51,270 Speaker 2: there is no room for favoritism. The Apostle Paul tells us, 23 00:01:51,730 --> 00:01:58,270 Speaker 2: For God does not show favoritism. Romans 2.11 Showing favoritism 24 00:01:58,330 --> 00:02:02,510 Speaker 2: will hurt your other children either directly or indirectly. Not 25 00:02:02,530 --> 00:02:06,970 Speaker 2: to mention, it could make the favorite overconfident, selfish, and self-absorbed. 26 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:11,500 Speaker 2: There needs to be equality amongst children. If you continue 27 00:02:11,540 --> 00:02:14,940 Speaker 2: to play favorites, it will push your children away from you. 28 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,540 Speaker 2: This has been true for me, as there was nothing 29 00:02:18,620 --> 00:02:20,540 Speaker 2: I could do to get my parents to like me. 30 00:02:21,460 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 2: I have gone through multiple years of therapy to help 31 00:02:23,740 --> 00:02:27,100 Speaker 2: work through this issue. I have also sought out help 32 00:02:27,139 --> 00:02:29,810 Speaker 2: from God. Through the help of the Lord, I have 33 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,410 Speaker 2: discovered that I am loved by Him. The Bible tells 34 00:02:33,510 --> 00:02:36,510 Speaker 2: us we are God's children and that we are dearly 35 00:02:36,630 --> 00:02:41,690 Speaker 2: loved by Him. 1 John 3.1 The journey has not 36 00:02:41,730 --> 00:02:44,530 Speaker 2: been easy, but Jesus has helped me every step of 37 00:02:44,550 --> 00:02:47,250 Speaker 2: the way. While it is true that I will always 38 00:02:47,290 --> 00:02:50,340 Speaker 2: have this wound from my parents, I can move on 39 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,820 Speaker 2: to new beginnings in the Lord. It also helps me 40 00:02:53,860 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 2: to share my story with others to help prevent them 41 00:02:56,500 --> 00:03:01,700 Speaker 2: from showing favoritism toward their own children. Intersecting Faith and 42 00:03:01,740 --> 00:03:07,190 Speaker 2: Life James 2.1 says, My brothers and sisters, believers in 43 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 2: our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, must not show favoritism. This 44 00:03:12,260 --> 00:03:15,740 Speaker 2: comes from the half-brother of the Lord. In no way 45 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 2: does favoritism bring about the righteous life that God wants 46 00:03:18,940 --> 00:03:21,690 Speaker 2: for us. It will only bring pain to our own 47 00:03:21,730 --> 00:03:25,470 Speaker 2: lives and to the lives of others. Reach out to 48 00:03:25,530 --> 00:03:28,490 Speaker 2: those that you may have hurt with favoritism and tell 49 00:03:28,530 --> 00:03:31,930 Speaker 2: them that you want to talk. Apologize to them and 50 00:03:32,010 --> 00:03:34,070 Speaker 2: ask if there is anything you can do to make 51 00:03:34,110 --> 00:03:38,330 Speaker 2: things right. Acknowledge that you cannot change the past, but 52 00:03:38,410 --> 00:03:41,350 Speaker 2: help them to know that you will no longer practice 53 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 2: favoritism in the future. An apology and a promise to 54 00:03:45,260 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: change for the future can go a long way towards 55 00:03:48,300 --> 00:03:52,660 Speaker 2: healing someone's heart, whether they are in their childhood, teenage, 56 00:03:53,060 --> 00:03:53,860 Speaker 2: or adult years. 57 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:55,820 Speaker 1: Let's pray. 58 00:03:57,020 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 2: Dear Lord, I want to let go of the toxic 59 00:03:59,740 --> 00:04:03,530 Speaker 2: trait of showing favoritism. I don't want to play favorites 60 00:04:03,570 --> 00:04:06,990 Speaker 2: anymore as I see all the pain it causes. Please 61 00:04:07,050 --> 00:04:10,350 Speaker 2: help me to love everyone equally. Please forgive me for 62 00:04:10,390 --> 00:04:13,170 Speaker 2: my sin. And please help those I have hurt to 63 00:04:13,230 --> 00:04:15,550 Speaker 2: forgive me. Thank you, Lord Jesus. 64 00:04:15,570 --> 00:04:16,330 Speaker 1: Amen. 65 00:04:18,050 --> 00:04:20,930 Speaker 2: When you are tempted to show favoritism, what can you do? 66 00:04:22,230 --> 00:04:24,270 Speaker 2: Is there a person you need to reach out to 67 00:04:24,330 --> 00:04:27,180 Speaker 2: today to apologize to and to make things right with? 68 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,900 Speaker 2: If so, when will you reach out to them this week? 69 00:04:32,350 --> 00:04:43,210 Speaker 2: Further reading, Genesis 37.4, Deuteronomy 10.17, Acts 10.34. 70 00:04:45,630 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. If you liked what 71 00:04:48,630 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 1: you heard today, we want to make sure you know 72 00:04:50,779 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 1: about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. When you follow 73 00:04:54,779 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 1: Your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, you'll get 74 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,210 Speaker 1: a brand new prayer and devotional each day, So your 75 00:05:01,250 --> 00:05:04,900 Speaker 1: days begin in conversation with God. If you're looking to 76 00:05:04,940 --> 00:05:07,700 Speaker 1: grow in prayer or start your day with your heart 77 00:05:07,779 --> 00:05:11,859 Speaker 1: focused on the right things, search for Your Daily Prayer 78 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,039 Speaker 1: in your favorite podcast app and be sure to follow 79 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:18,020 Speaker 1: the show so you get a new prayer delivered straight 80 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: to you each morning. 81 00:05:26,630 --> 00:05:30,089 Speaker 3: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 82 00:05:30,150 --> 00:05:33,840 Speaker 3: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 83 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,779 Speaker 3: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 84 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:42,660 Speaker 3: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 85 00:05:42,820 --> 00:05:45,940 Speaker 3: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 86 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,740 Speaker 3: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 87 00:05:49,140 --> 00:05:51,900 Speaker 3: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 88 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:54,300 Speaker 3: so many of you filled out a few months back. 89 00:05:54,620 --> 00:05:57,210 Speaker 3: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 90 00:05:57,250 --> 00:06:00,210 Speaker 3: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 91 00:06:00,250 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 3: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 92 00:06:03,140 --> 00:06:04,040 Speaker 3: We'd love to have you.