Acceptance: Receiving others willingly and unconditionally (even when their behavior has been imperfect) and loving them in spite of any differences that may exist between you. (Romans 15:7)
The plan today will be to look at accepting believers and others but I, (Linda) want to add one more, yourself. As I was preparing and praying about this week’s plan I started to realize that, if we don’t fully accept ourselves, how can we really be accepting of others?
If we are constantly measuring ourselves to neighbors, church family, our own family or Facebook, (my husband calls it FAKEbook) to give us our sense of “I’m OK” how can we be accepting of others just for who they are? Are we measuring others with the same standards, as well?
I spent a good portion of my life not accepting myself. I felt I needed to be someone different, better, something more. But, once I realized and accepted the person God made me to be, that is when I realized that I more honestly accepted others too. I realized everyone has a story. The book cover on the outside (what we see when we first notice a person) may be a FAKEbook! What is actually written on the inside is what matters.
THREE SOURCES OF LIGHT – Help Us Experience Acceptance
Light Source #1: Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12)
Walking in the Light: Having a fresh encounter with Jesus.
Would you please read Psalm 139
Your Father knows your story…He wrote it!
May I ask you a question? If God created you, wrote your story and is always present in your life, do you believe that means you are worthy in His eyes? Are His thoughts and His great love for you enough? Enough even when acceptance does not come quickly or at all from others? Enough to see others as created, beautiful children of the same Father that feels as deeply for them as for you?
My friend, until you can know in your heart that, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” it will be so difficult to accept others because they too are fearfully and wonderfully made. No measuring stick is necessary. We are perfect the way we are because we were each handcrafted by our Father.
It breaks my heart to know so many of us walk around broken inside and living “less than we are” instead of living abundantly as we are made. Would you ask your Father to show you just what He thinks of you?
Light Source #2: God’s Word is a lamp and a light, so walk in the light of frequent experiences of doing His Word. Psalm 119: 105
Let’s do:Romans 15:7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
You may remember that this was last week’s scripture in the 52 Week Plan, but I find it a very fitting verse to look at again this week. If you notice this verse has “then” in it. Let’s look at the verses before 15:7 to see what the “then” is about.
Romans 15:1-6 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. 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.
If we can strive to have the same mind as Christ towards others (serving, putting others needs before ours), THEN we can accept others as Christ accepts us.
Light Source #3: God’s people are sources of light so walk in real fellowship with believers and others. “the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14
So how do we go about first accepting ourselves and then accepting others as Christ does?
For yourself: Dig deep in scripture….your worth is written in His Word! Begin a study that replaces lies you believe about yourself with the Truth of God’s Word. I kept a journal for a long time. On one side I had what I believed about myself, lies and on the other side I searched scripture to replace that with the truth.
For example:
Lie: I don’t Matter to God.
Truth: Romans 8: 38-39
Every time you believe the lie, go as quickly as possible to renew your mind with the Truth. Choose to believe God’s truth in spite of what you feel. Eventually you begin to believe the truth and not the lie!
For believer’s and others:
As you learn to accept yourself and believe the truth of how God honestly sees you, your heart will change almost automatically. You will need to continue to choose to accept others as you are accepted, but once you realize all that God has done for you, you will accept yourself more appropriately and rest in God’s love. Don’t you want others to feel and to know the same about themselves?
Friend, my prayer for you is Ephesians 3:14-19. I believe I am fearfully and wonderfully made, accepted as the “Linda” created for and by my heavenly Father. I want you to live the same! IN CHRIST WE ARE ACCEPTED. WE MIGHT AS WELL KNOW IT!