Bible Reading: Romans 15:5-7
Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you. Romans 15:7
You’re baffled. You used to think your room was pretty big. But as you look around you realize—well—that you can hardly turn your head. A few months ago you could do gymnastic flip-flops in here. Now you can barely budge an elbow. And while you’re trying to figure out how to make your place feel more roomy, you’re suddenly squeezed from the comfy home that’s been yours for the past nine months.
Bright lights hit your eyes. Loud noises blast your ears. You definitely have room to stretch. And now you have a new job. You have to breathe!
You don’t remember the huge change that took place when you were born. But think for a moment what happened to you when you were born again-that time when you trusted Christ as your Savior and God accepted you as his child:
• You became an heir of God (see Ephesians 1:13-14).
• You were adopted into God’s family (see Ephesians 1:5).
• Your heart was filled with God’s love (see Romans 5:5).
• You will never be separated from God’s love (see Romans 8:38-39).
• You will spend eternity with God in a place he has prepared for you (see John 14:1-4).
• You were welcomed into a new family, and you are a member in good standing throughout all eternity (see 1 Corinthians 12:13, 27).
Some days you might feel as bewildered by life as a baby getting his first whiff of air. But you can be sure of all the truths listed above. They add up to one certain fact: You are accepted by God.
When Jesus took a group of kids into his arms and blessed them (see Mark 10:16), you can bet that they weren’t perfect little angels. They were kids-disobedient, disagreeable, sometimes downright bad. Yet Jesus showed God’s unconditional love by blessing the imperfect little ones.
God wants us to accept ourselves the way we are—knowing that we have weaknesses as well as strengths, shortcomings as well as abilities. And God challenges us to show the world the same kind of love he shows us. “Accept one another, then,” wrote Paul, “just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Romans 15:7, NIV). And if you want to love like God loves, then start by seeing yourself as God sees you: totally acceptable and totally lovable.
TALK: In light of all God has done to prove his unconditional love, what keeps you from seeing yourself as lovable?
PRAY: God, thanks for accepting us. Help us to see ourselves and others the way you do.
ACT: Don’t spend your day hiding your flaws and failures. Let people see the real you today.
