Acceptance

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
Romans 15 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15:5-7, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
Acceptance.  Isn’t that something we all want?  Even as small children we crave the acceptance of others.  The acceptance, or lack thereof, by ones parents and peers can alter a person’s life in dramatic ways.  In a world where being judgmental, critical, harsh and abusive to others will make you famous Paul’s challenge here in Romans 15 is harder than ever.  Paul doesn’t just say tolerate one another, but that we should ACCEPT each other as Christ accepted us.

Ever thought about what that means?  How tall of an order that is?  Christ accepts us in our darkest moments.  In moments where it would seem almost foolish for the world not to reject us, Christ meets us there and holds open his arms and says “I want you just as you are.”   Paul says we should do the same.  We should look into people, see their brokenness, see their doubts, their fears, their ugliness and say “It doesn’t matter.  I love you, anyway.  I accept you, anyway.”  Why is this so important?

Well, that’s easy. Paul already told us “so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 6). Hard to have one mind and one voice with someone you barely tolerate. In Paul’s time there was a spirit of division between the Jews and Gentile Christians over food and other traditions.  We have the same issues in the church today.  People get hung up on differences of opinion and they lose sight of the goal.  This was Paul’s way of telling them and us to set aside our differences, to accept each other in spite of our differences, so that focus can be on what really matters—joining together and giving praise to the One who is worthy of it.


POINT OF ACTION:
Do you think you can do the same?  Can you put aside your differences, accept people for who they are and love them for it?  Try and let go of your paradigms and boxes that people should fit into and see people for who they are—broken people with a shared loved of Jesus Christ.


PRAYER:
Lord, I pray that you will help us to accept those around us completely and wholly as Christ accepted us.  Help us to let go of those things that hold us back from doing so that we can give you the praise that you are so worthy of.


WHO AM I?
Hi, my name’s Greg and I hijacked my wife’s bio. Amanda is the most loving, caring and accepting person I know.  She loves to study the Bible and is always on a mission to what is right.  She is a loving mother to our four children and tolerant of all the cats and dogs I bring home.  I am lucky to have such a wonderful person to share my life with.