God Never Plays Favorites

by Rick Warren — January 25, 2021
From A Faith That Works When Life Doesn’t

“[The promise] is not only for those who live under the law of Moses but for anyone who lives with faith like that of Abraham.”

Romans 4:16 (NCV)

God doesn’t play favorites—regardless of your background, status, or sin. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a religious person, a formerly religious person, or if you have any religious background at all.

Romans 4:16 says, “[The promise] is not only for those who live under the law of Moses but for anyone who lives with faith like that of Abraham” (NCV). Who are these people who live under the Law of Moses? The Jews. The Jewish people were given the ways of God before anyone else.

Have you ever thought about why the Jews were called God’s chosen people? Does God love them more than he loves the rest of us? No. They were chosen for a purpose—to spread the message to everybody else that there is one true God. They were kind of like the missionaries to the rest of us.

Now God has taken that task and given it to the church, which includes everybody who puts their faith in Christ, regardless of their background. God says his salvation is available to anybody who opens up his or her heart in faith: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13 NIV). There are no quotas in heaven. The Bible doesn’t say only really good people will be saved if they call on the name of the Lord. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

The sad thing is many people still try to work their way into heaven, even though they know God offers his gift of grace. They think they can make themselves good enough—that they don’t need God’s gift of salvation through Christ.

You may have done some really nifty things in life. But if you think they’re going to get you into heaven, forget it. The only way any of us gets in is by receiving God’s gift of grace, which is available to every person.

Talk It Over

  • How do you respond to the truth that nothing you can do will cause God to love you any more or any less than he does now?
  • What is your part in the church’s task to spread the message of salvation to those who have not heard?
  • What does it mean to “call on the name of the Lord”?

Have you trusted Jesus for your salvation?

The Bible is clear: There is nothing you can do to get yourself into heaven. But the good news is that everyone who calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. The Bible says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus and committed to following him, why wait any longer? If you’re ready to step across that line and make a decision to believe in Jesus Christ and follow him, pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sin, and I believe you are my Savior. You have promised that if I confess my sin and trust you, I will be saved. I trust you when you say salvation comes by grace, through faith, and not by anything I do. I receive you into my life as my Lord. Today I’m turning over every part of my life to your management. You have the right to call the shots in my life.

“Jesus, I want to relax in your love. Thank you that I don’t have to earn it or work for it. I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of trying to work my way into heaven. I humbly commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In your name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


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