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)
What does your church look like? I mean the people? Is it diverse or is everyone basically the same age, color, spiritual level, or social class? Regardless of how people look or what their station in life, do you realize we are all created by God and loved by Him? Anyone, and I believe anyone, who comes to God by faith in Jesus Christ can be and will be forgiven and received as a loved member of God’s forever family. Even for those not in the faith (yet) it is our love and acceptance of one another and of them, that let’s them know we are God’s children and Jesus’ disciples. By the way, we can’t really tell by casual observation the spiritual or relational status of a person. Can we? Do we treat one another as if we are judging them and do we start measuring the person by our own measuring stick before that person even says a word to us?
If you read the 52 Week Plan last week, I mentioned about being teased and not wanting to play a part in the teasing of others. I realized at a young age that everyone has a story. No one knew mine. No one knew that I was up almost every night because the police were at my house. No one knew that my mother’s husband beat her in front of me almost daily. No one knew that my parents got a divorce and I had to leave the house I loved for a place I hated. No one knew that I had to leave all my old friends. No one knew that the reason I was so shy was because I was terrified of people. If those who teased me would have taken the time “to know” me…maybe they wouldn’t have judged me by what I looked like, how shy I was or that I was from a town they didn’t like. Maybe that would have changed the way they treated me. Maybe….
Please read James chapter 2
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. Faith and Deeds 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. I almost don’t want to write anything else. This chapter in James pretty much teaches what acceptance is for believers and those outside the faith.
As I mentioned before, I was judged just for my appearance and for my shyness when I was in school. Now I see this lack of acceptance in other members of my family. My son is a fairly new police officer. He is judged by others, and what is he “guilty of”? Some people judge and shun him just for wearing his uniform. Daily we see on the news those being judged and even physically harmed for color or political party. When will we stop and just see everyone for being people…created in the image of God and dearly loved by Him?
Believer, we have the responsibility to accept others for who they are, period! We are not the one to judge them, that is God’s job. We will be judged by the same measuring stick that we judge others by! (verse 13 – above) I am so thankful God has extended His hand of Grace to me time and time again! Will you offer the same hand of grace to others? How about to those that differ from you in some way? Will you extend grace and remember that they have a story too? Behind the person you see standing in front of you is a whole book of chapters no one has taken time to read. How sad, my friends! Don’t we all want to know and be known ourselves?
My heart is breaking as I am writing this. I hate…hate, the judgment I see all around me. It saddens me that I have to fear for my son’s life every time he wears his uniform because people hate him simply for wearing it. I am sad for the way we judge others just by what we see on the outside! I have been guilty of it too! It breaks my heart! Oh God forgive us! May we see others through Your eyes, Lord!
I think that is the key and the prayer that maybe should be on our lips daily. Lord may we see through Your eyes! Think of how we would see others if we saw them as Christ does. I am humbled to even think of it. As a kid being teased in school, what I wouldn’t have given for someone to “know” me, to accept me. You know, your neighbor, the person sitting by you in church, the person for you have the most difficult time loving may all feel the same way. The kid that may act or look different…he/she wants to be known and accepted too.
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Will you friend?