LOVE YOURSELF AND OTHERS
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.
Romans 15:7 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
News flash, you are accepted by God!
Most people spend a lot of energy trying to earn acceptance. We want to earn acceptance from our parents, peers, partners in life, and from the people we respect. The drive to be accepted is a deep drive that can influence the kind of clothes we wear, the kind of car we drive, the kind of house we buy, and even the career we choose.
That drive for acceptance can cause us to do some stupid and risky things because we think others will accept us. Remember being a kid and someone daring you to do something and your drive to be accepted overcame your drive for safety. You did something way outside your comfort zone simply because you wanted to be accepted.
When you feel accepted it does tremendous things to your self-image. We all are guilty at times of allowing our self-image to be dictated by other people. Do we get invited to the right parties? Do we get enough likes on our social media?
But the truth is that we are accepted by God through Christ. The God Who created you and me has already chosen to accept us. He values us. He declares we are His children. He even calls us His masterpiece. Every human being, regardless of our physical or mental abilities, is declared by God as a masterpiece.
When I realize I am accepted by God I should be able to accept others. I am to accept those that are very different from me. Those who may look, act, and vote different than I do. Those who may not even profess Jesus as Lord or even acknowledge the existence of God. I can respect them and accept them because God accepted me when I was a sinner and a loser.
We are accepted. Go and love yourself and others.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit help me to realize how much I am loved by You. Help me to accept myself and establish my self-image based on Your acceptance of me. Help me to show that same acceptance to others.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
I am who God says I am. I can do what God says I can do.