When you look at the Apostles of the Lord, you will see that there were twelve of them, but there were three in the inner circle and there was one who was called 'The Beloved'. These three were the favourites of Jesus Christ and He took them with Him everywhere He went. When He was going to Jairus’ house, He had all the twelve disciples with Him, but it was only those three who He took with Him (Mark 5:35-42). Peter, James and John saw His power; they saw Him raise the little girl from death while the others only heard about it.

Why did the Lord have a special inner circle amongst His disciples and why did He love one of them specially? Well, the simple answer is that God has favourites.

Many people say that God has no favorites. This is not true. The question you should be asking therefore is “How do I become one of His favourites?” When you read Romans 9:11-16, the Bible says a woman was pregnant with a set of twins. Before they were born, God said the elder would serve the younger, that He loved one and hated the other even, when they were not yet born. He said He would have mercy on whom He will have mercy and compassion on whom He would have compassion. He said it is not of him that willeth or of him that runneth, but of the Lord who hat showeth mercy.

In Acts 10:34-35, the Bible says:

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

This passage makes me see clearly that God looks out for certain things in people before He makes them His favourites. I took a close look at Peter, James and John – His three favourite disciples. I studied Peter and John especially, because it wasn’t long after Jesus’ ascension that James was killed.

I will share what I learnt from these two with you in the next two days.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

WHO WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST?

Wouldn't this article be making God out to be a liar when His Word says in Romans 2:11 (NIV, NLT) that He doesn't show favouritism? Would the article imply that God loves certain people more than others?

It's either he extends his mercy (from the Hebrew word chêsêd which means lovingkindness) or he doesn't (Romans 9:18).

However, the Bible does aver that 'God chooses people according to HIS OWN PURPOSES for them, not according to their good works or bad works' (these words I just wrote down are exactly from the scriptures, I didn't add to it - Romans 9:11-12). This is why Apostle Paul, despite his misdeeds (bad works), God went after him still, saved him by grace when he believed and wrought great deeds through him.

The word "favouritism" is not really a good description. The better word is to say that "God has preferences".

For example, in Malachi 3:1, God said "Jacob I love, Esau I hate".

Or like when Christ said in Luke 14:26, "one must hate ones father, mother, children, sisters, brethren and your own life, to follow HIM".

Ok, then, should we now say that God hates some people now? Or Is Christ saying now we should hate our family, other people and ourselves?

NO right?. Cause that would contradict a whole lot of scripture on the Love of God and the Love for others. Love being the one great royal law.

Hebrew word is so much more complex, and nuanced than simple English word.

Those passages ought to be interpreted as "God preferred Jacob than Esau". Your love of Christ and HIS missions should be seem as hate in comparisons for others relatively.

So, Christ preferred Peter, John and James to be HIS inner confidants; best friends if you will. This really does not necessarily mean they were HIS favorites. Why God prefers certain people over others? Most likely, because of certain characteristics, & personalities traits of those individuals.

The1960writer:
Wouldn't this article be making God out to be a liar when His Word says in Romans 2:11 (NIV, NLT) that He doesn't show favouritism? Would the article imply that God loves certain people more than others?

It's either he extends his mercy (from the Hebrew word chêsêd which means lovingkindness) or he doesn't (Romans 9:18).

However, the Bible does aver that 'God chooses people according to HIS OWN PURPOSES for them, not according to their good works or bad works' (these words I just wrote down are exactly from the scriptures, I didn't add to it - Romans 9:11-12). This is why Apostle Paul, despite his misdeeds (bad works), God went after him still, saved him by grace when he believed and wrought great deeds through him.

kpakpandoN:
When you look at the Apostles of the Lord, you will see that there were twelve of them, but there were three in the inner circle and there was one who was called 'The Beloved'. These three were the favourites of Jesus Christ and He took them with Him everywhere He went. When He was going to Jairus’ house, He had all the twelve disciples with Him, but it was only those three who He took with Him (Mark 5:35-42). Peter, James and John saw His power; they saw Him raise the little girl from death while the others only heard about it.

Why did the Lord have a special inner circle amongst His disciples and why did He love one of them specially? Well, the simple answer is that God has favourites.

Many people say that God has no favorites. This is not true. The question you should be asking therefore is “How do I become one of His favourites?” When you read Romans 9:11-16, the Bible says a woman was pregnant with a set of twins. Before they were born, God said the elder would serve the younger, that He loved one and hated the other even, when they were not yet born. He said He would have mercy on whom He will have mercy and compassion on whom He would have compassion. He said it is not of him that willeth or of him that runneth, but of the Lord who hat showeth mercy.

In Acts 10:34-35, the Bible says:

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

This passage makes me see clearly that God looks out for certain things in people before He makes them His favourites. I took a close look at Peter, James and John – His three favourite disciples. I studied Peter and John especially, because it wasn’t long after Jesus’ ascension that James was killed.

I will share what I learnt from these two with you in the next two days.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

John 19:26-27
26So Jesus, seeing His mother, and the disciple whom He loved (esteemed) standing near, said to His mother,
“[Dear] woman, look, [here is] your son!”
27Then He said to the disciple (John),
“Look! [here is] your mother [protect and provide for her]!”
From that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

The three might have been the favourites of Jesus Christ, but it is, only one, who was known and recognised, to be popular with Jesus Christ and that person happened to be John

Jesus preferred the trio alright (i.e. Peter, James & John), but it was John who Jesus liked the most. The extent of how agreeable Jesus was to John became clearly visible, understood and evident, when Jesus, whilst hanging on the cross on Calvary, dying, literally handed over His mum, Mary, to John to look after and take care of, for Him.

It is a mark of respect for any dying person to entrust the care, welfare and wellbeing of their mother, to someone they have high regards, admiration and respect of. Jesus held John in high respect over all the other disciples and so is how John was chosen by Jesus, to take care of Mary, His mum, for Him.

_{Personal text: Jesus is not a theologian. He is God who told stories.}

The1960writer:
Wouldn't this article be making God out to be a liar when His Word says in Romans 2:11 (NIV, NLT) that He doesn't show favouritism? Would the article imply that God loves certain people more than others?

It's either he extends his mercy (from the Hebrew word chêsêd which means lovingkindness) or he doesn't (Romans 9:18).

However, the Bible does aver that 'God chooses people according to HIS OWN PURPOSES for them, not according to their good works or bad works' (these words I just wrote down are exactly from the scriptures, I didn't add to it - Romans 9:11-12). This is why Apostle Paul, despite his misdeeds (bad works), God went after him still, saved him by grace when he believed and wrought great deeds through him.

Numbers 12:5-10
5The LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the doorway of the tabernacle,
and He called Aaron and Miriam, and they came forward.
6And He said,
“Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I the LORD will make Myself known to him in a vision
And I will speak to him in a dream.
7“But it is not so with My servant Moses;
He is entrusted and faithful in all My house.
8“With him I speak mouth to mouth [directly],
Clearly and openly and not in riddles;
And he beholds the form of the LORD.
Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?”
9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Miriam and Aaron, and He departed.
10But when the cloud had withdrawn from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow.
And Aaron turned and looked at Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

There is a time and place to when and/or where to show or not to show favouritism and/or preferences. God clearly expressed and showed in Numbers 12:5-10 above, which among the prophets, including Aaron and Miriam, who He held in high regards (i.e. Who He favoured)

We know that God loves each and every one of us, but some, desire that, aside being loved by God, that they, on top of the being loved, want to be one of God's favourites too. Now, the fact about favouritism with God is that, God does not show favouritism to individuals, as though others are going tobe excluded from any and/or all of God’s blessings. The blessings of God, His favours, His grace et cetera are abound in each, all and everyone's lives. Praise God. Alleluia

_{Personal text: Jesus is not a theologian. He is God who told stories.}

Seraph7:
The word "favouritism" is not really a good description. The better word is to say that "God has preferences".

For example, in Malachi 3:1, God said "Jacob I love, Esau I hate".

Or like when Christ said in Luke 14:26, "one must hate ones father, mother, children, sisters, brethren and your own life, to follow HIM".

Ok, then, should we now say that God hates some people now? Or Is Christ saying now we should hate our family, other people and ourselves?

NO right?. Cause that would contradict a whole lot of scripture on the Love of God and the Love for others. Love being the one great royal law.

Hebrew word is so much more complex, and nuanced than simple English word.

Those passages ought to be interpreted as "God preferred Jacob than Esau". Your love of Christ and HIS missions should be seem as hate in comparisons for others relatively.

So, Christ preferred Peter, John and James to be HIS inner confidants; best friends if you will. This really does not necessarily mean they were HIS favorites. Why God prefers certain people over others? Most likely, because of certain characteristics, & personalities traits of those individuals.

Hebrews 4:16
Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace
[that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear,
so that we may receive mercy [for our failures]
and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need
[an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].

Both words (i.e. favouritism and preferences) are interchangeable.

Jesus Christ preferred John over Peter and James (i.e. even over His own blood brother), simply because John positioned himself to qualify for that privilege. John is famous for reclining on Jesus' bosom, listening to the heartbeats of Jesus, essentially a man after God's heart, so to speak (i.e. John 13:23)

After all, out of the heart, flows the issues of life, springs of life, the outgoings of life et cetera (i.e. Proverbs 4:23) Everything one does, flows from the heart, and so whatever it is, that flows out of the heart, is what determines the course of one's life. John, with leaning in a relaxed way on Jesus' bosom, simply was positioning himself to connect with and tap in to the heart of God.

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you, [i.e. James 4:8], is how God tends to choose certain individuals over others

_{Personal text: Jesus is not a theologian. He is God who told stories.}