Romans 15:7

 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God ~ Romans 15:7


How many of us grew up thinking we were unaccepted by either our parents, or our friends, or even our siblings. Unacceptance is a judgment placed upon another, or the self. It says, “You/I don’t match up to the standards.” And, when we are young we take that in and we believe it. “I can’t run as fast as you can run.” “I can’t stand up in front of a group of people and talk like you can.” Unacceptance is full of “I can’t.” We live our young life, and sometimes those thoughts from our childhood transfer over into our adult life, and we feel like we are an eternal failure. What a devastating way to live! Christ changes all that though! Whatever we were told when we were young is no longer true in Him, for He is the one who says, “I love you just the way you are!” And then He does this wondrous thing in our lives and transforms us into that better person He already knew we were! He makes us more us! That may not make sense to some, unless you have been transformed by Christ. What I mean is that our past baggage is healed, our hurts and pain and unacceptance become wholeness and full acceptance. It is a glorious state. The judgment is gone, the guilt is removed, the slate is clean, we live in abiding love. We have the opportunity to do this for others, just as Christ did it for us. When we accept others without judgment, we bring the healing balm of Christ into their lives. When we accept without judgment, we have the opportunity to build their broken image to become like Christ’s image through His love poured through us and into their heart. This is how we bring praise to the Lord! Acceptance says, “you are different than I am, but I will treasure you for your gifts and qualities!” Praise God we are not all the same!

Pastor Julia

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