Choose to Be Accepting
Scripture Reading — Romans 15:1-13
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
—Romans 15:7
We long for acceptance in our relationships. From childhood, we seek our parents’ approval even as we wish for independence. As adults, some of us may still hear a parent’s criticism ringing in our ears. We search for unconditional love in various relationships or continually strive to achieve yet more. We want somehow to earn love and acceptance.
We all delight in affirmation from others. Everyone wants to know that even with all of our faults, we are still appreciated, loved, and valued. We want others to accept us as we are without trying to change us.
Yet only God is able to love us unconditionally all of the time. We are loved—warts and all—and we were loved while we were still sinful. God loved us so much that he gave his only Son for us (John 3:16). That’s how God sees us.
God calls us to see others through his eyes. He calls us to accept others the way he does—as dearly loved, broken children of God who are created in his own image. God loves us as we are, and he challenges us to live into a life worthy of our calling.
Accepting each other and loving each other in spite of our faults will benefit one another, but, more important, it will bring praise to God. When Christians care for one another, God is glorified. Are you ready to praise God by seeing others the way he does?
Lord, give us your eyes to see one another as your pre-cious children. Keep making us more like Jesus, we pray. Amen.
About the author — Steven and Deb Koster
Steven and Deb Koster have a passion for marriages, families, and spiritual growth in the home. Both are ordained ministers in the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Steven formerly served as editor of Today and director of ReFrame's English-language outreach. Deb leads Family Fire, ReFrame’s family ministry at FamilyFire.com and on Facebook. The Kosters have three children.
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