April 11 - Acceptance

Romans 15:7

7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Christ doesn't have a select group that he associates himself with. He doesn't offer salvation to 'Group A' and shun 'Group B'. Christ is willing and desires to embrace every single person on the planet. A lot of people assume that God has already handpicked those who are 'chosen' to live eternally in heaven and some are heading straight to hell. This mentality and belief is so far from the truth. The Bible states clearly, that if we just believe with our hearts (meaning anyone and everyone) that Christ died and arose from the dead, and confess with our mouths that Christ is Lord, we will have that eternal life.

Verse 13 goes on to back up my previous statement. If someone thinks that God hand picks those to have eternal life, think again. Verse 13 says, " for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved". It is very simple. God loves us. In fact, he loves us so much, he had his Son strung up on a cross and crucified for our ugly lives we lead. We are dirty, smelly, sinful, hateful, lustful, greedy, jealous, apathetic, and so much more, but yet Christ longs for a close relationship with us...because he loves us and accepts us. How can anyone, turn down such love? It is harder to believe that people deny Christ everyday, than it is to believe in the life, death, and resurrection on Jesus Christ.

In the same sense, we as Christians (followers and imitators of Christ), should accept and love everyone. If I turn someone away because they don't have the best clothes, or they have holes in their shoes, or they are uneducated, or they are loud, or whatever...I am delivering a negative message of love to that person. How can I expect them to understand and grasp the love that God has if I don't lead by example? It is so easy to ignore a student when they say my name from a distance. I have no idea what that students wants to say. They may need help. They may just want to say hello and ask about my weekend. If I were to call on Christ, I would want him to listen and give me attention. The same is true with our brothers and sisters.

James 1:22

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

One thing I will never have to worry about is that God will always listen when I call on his name.