APRIL 23

Love and Impartiality

Bible Reading: James 2:1-13

Imagine this scene. You notice that a new visitor has just parked their shiny Cadillac in the church parking lot. A husband and wife both step out of the car. Well dressed and adorned with expensive jewelry, they appear to be quite well to do. The couple are warmly received at the front entrance, the greeters personally accompany them, and seat them where they prefer. Soon after, a beater of an old van arrives, belching smoke from its exhaust. And out of the van burst forth a single mom and five rambunctious children, attired in worn and wrinkled garments. Mom breaks up an argument between two of the boys and then manages to somehow corral the reluctant kids to the entrance. The greeter hands the mom a church bulletin and points to some seats in the back corner of the church. After the service the rich couple is warmly greeted by members of the church. The single mom, on the other hand, received no greeting and only disdainful looks. Having come to the church looking for some hope and answers, she left never to return again.

Do such things happen?  Yes!  Should they?  Never!!  I’m so glad for the impartiality of God with respect to His love.  I think back to where I was and what I was doing when I first believed.  I was so incredibly blessed by God’s love in the forgiveness I received!  That God would save someone like me speaks to how truly amazing His grace truly is.  And so it is for all of us.  “Consider your calling,” wrote the Apostle Paul, “not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).”  God has so worked in salvation to remove every possible reason for human boasting.  Any good in me is entirely by God’s doing and according to His grace!

James speaks of the “royal law.”  “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (James 2:8), is the law of our King, and the highest of all His laws. Jesus, our King, showed no partiality.  The One who was rich but became poor crossed all kinds of traditional barriers in dealing with people.  In fact, the religious leaders chided Him for His propensity to hang out with sinners and tax-gatherers.  He lovingly ministered to both Jews and non-Jews (and even Samaritans), rich and poor, men and women.  Even societal outcasts, like the lepers and the demon-possessed, found a friend in Jesus.  

In  his  Prison Fellowship newsletter, Chuck Colson wrote of a “pastor who was putting the final touches on his sermon early one Sunday morning when he heard a knock on his study door.  There stood three ragged  boys who had previously received gifts from members of the church.  Their home was ravaged by drugs and prostitution.  They had never been in a church before and wanted to look around.  So the pastor gave them a quick “tour.” Fifteen minutes  later they were back, asking what time the service started.  “Can people come to your church if their  socks don’t match?” asked the oldest.  The pastor assured them they could.  “What if they don’t have any socks?”  Again, the pastor reassured them.  “That’s good,” said the boy, “because my socks don’t match, and my little brother hasn’t any.”  That morning those boys came to church and were warmly welcomed.  Since then the church has helped the entire family.”  Jesus showed no partiality.  And if we are to love like Jesus then we need to do likewise.  . 

Jesus Showed No Partiality and Neither Should We

Lord Jesus!  How amazing it is that You saved me!  I was a rebel sinner, hostile in mind to You, and engaged in all kinds of evil.  But You showed no partiality when You intervened in my life and saved me from my sins.  Forgive us for our sinful tendency to measure people according to our own preconceived notions or their appearance.  You desire all men to be saved.  Knowing this, may we treat people according to the same kind of impartiality as You.  People need You.  Help us to see people through Your eyes and to relate to them with Your compassion–no matter who they are.  In Your Name.  Amen.

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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