“Therefore, [continue to] accept and welcome one another, just as Christ has accepted and welcomed us to the glory of [our great] God.” Romans 15:7 AMP

All of us long to be accepted! It is what had us dancing to everyone else’s music. In many of our relationships in the past we were accepted because of what we brought to table. After receiving Christ as my Lord and Savior, God released me from the bondage of my drug addiction. That meant that the old partying Ken was no longer around. It seemed like in an instant all of those who claimed to be my “friends” suddenly found reason not to be around me anymore. I quickly realized that most of those relationships were based on the things I brought to the party and not the one who was at the party! I found myself in a lonely place struggling with the reality that I was no longer accepted by those who once called me friend! The dictionary defines acceptance as the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable, typically to be admitted to a group. Acceptance is one of the strongest needs of the human soul. Unfortunately, I thought my acceptance to God was what I brought to the table! The verse today tells us a completely different story. We are reminded that we should be open and accepting of others just as He is open and accepting of us! The Greek word for accepted here is the word meaning to “draw to oneself; to bring fully into fellowship.” 

In writing this verse, the Apostle Paul was talking about stronger Christians embracing weaker ones not holding their immaturity or weaknesses against them! Paul is reminding us that while we were weak Christ made us alive to the Father. We read the following words from Chapter fourteen.

“As for the one whose faith is weak, accept him [into your fellowship], but not for [the purpose of] quarreling over his opinions.” Romans 14:1 AMP

I totally believe that acceptance brings security. If we are in a safe place then, we can be ourselves. Does that mean we should simply disregard the call to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ Jesus? Heaven forbids. It does however mean that I have the trust and strength to know that God will never use my weakness against me. He is the one who has given me the power to be everything He has created me to be! God is always reaching out to restore our relationship with Him. Even in the garden, after Adam and Eve sinned, God came calling “where are you?” It wasn’t the call of an angry Father but a call of sorrow and desperation. 

Despite my past sin and failure, in Christ I can walk in acceptance and forgiveness. The whole mission of Chrost was to save that which was lost; a sinner like me. If you are in that place of battling acceptance know this,

“But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 AMP

If God loved us enough to die for us while we were in rebellion, how much more is His joy when we finally come home to Him! If you are in that place of struggling with acceptance, He is there for you. Come to the one who can love you unconditionally and not for what you can bring of do for Him! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken