DIVINE ACCEPTANCE!!!! John 15:18-21 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. Grab the coffee :) Everyone knows what it feels like to be criticized and rejected .......often by the very people in our lives we desperately want to please .......We were born and raised in a worldly environment .......which CHOOSES favorites ......and REJECTS seconds .......and since nobody can be the best at everything .......we all were ignored .......overlooked ........or rejected ......at one time or another by parents .....teachers .....and .....friends! Furthermore ........since we were born in sin .....even God had a distant relationship with us .......until we were accepted by Him in Christ at salvation ......And since that divine intervention .....we have been the target of Satan ......the accuser of the brethren ..Revelation 12:10 ....who NEVER ceases to lie to us about how worthless we are to God .....and how meaningless we are to others!! ......In THIS life ....we ALL have to live with the pain of rejection at some point or another!!! The ACCEPTANCE of God .......is NOT based on our PERFORMANCE .......but on HIS KINDNESS and MERCY .......But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy ..Titus 3:4-5 ...... .....Wherefore, ACCEPT one another, just as Christ also accepted US to the glory of God ......Romans 15:7 ...... Truth is my friend .....the thoughts and feelings of rejection .....which often plague us .......can be major deterrents to Growth and Maturity if we dont LEARN to handle them POSITIVELY!! .........Unfortunately .....instead of taking a positive approach .......we all learned early in life to respond to rejection by taking one of three defensive postures .....Even Christians are influenced to react defensively to the rejection they experience in their family .....their school .....or society in general!! 1 .......The first defensive posture is that people defend against rejection by buying into the dog-eat-dog system of the world .........and learn to COMPETE and SCHEME to get ahead of the pack ......These are the movers and shakers ......people who EARN acceptance ......and STRIVE for significance through their PERFORMANCE .......They feel DRIVEN to get on top of EVERY situation ........because WINNING is their Passport to Acceptance ......They are characterized by Perfectionism AND Emotional Insulation .....and in turn, they struggle with anxiety and stress!! .....this is what the Word says about this posture ...... See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ ..Colossians 2:8...!! 2 .......The second is by self attack and taking on the mindset of a loser .....The system says that the BEST .....the STRONGEST .....the MOST BEAUTIFUL ........ and the MOST TALENTED are IN ......Those who dont fit those categories .......which includes most of us .....are OUT ......and we succumb to societys FALSE judgment of our WORTH ......As a result ......a large segment of the population is plagued by feelings of Worthlessness ......Inferiority .......and Self-Condemnation!! ........Know this ......God has NOT equally distributed gifts .....talents ......or intelligence .......but He HAS equally distributed HIMSELF ......Our sense of WORTH comes from KNOWING who we ARE as children of God .......See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are .....1 John 3:1) 3 .......The third way people respond to rejection is to rebel against the social system ....We are to submit to and pray for the governing authorities so that it may be well with us ....1 Peter 2:18-21 & 1 Timothy 2:1-4 ......The means by which we EVALUATE ourselves and the STANDARDS by which we LIVE ......ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD ........Isaiah 1:19-20 If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword How we respond to rejection will determine the quality of the fruit we are producing .....Look to JESUS ...the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our FAITH ......FAITH RE-determines REJECTION .....and transforms it into ACCEPTANCE ........remember this ......1 Peter 2:4 And coming to HIM as to a living stone, REJECTED by men, but CHOICE and PRECIOUS in the sight of GOD!!! This my friend is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE .......and TOTAL ACCEPTANCE ....SHAKE OFF A MINDSET OF REJECTION .....KNOWING THAT JESUS WALKED THIS ROAD FIRST ....and LAID A PERFECT FOUNDATION ....IN ALL THINGS......THAT WE .....CAN .....TAKE UP OUR CROSS ....and FOLLOW......HIM!!!! Thank You .....Lord .......for Your unconditional love ......and total acceptance .......Teach me to accept OTHERS as ......you have accepted me ........Help me to rise about rejection ....and find victory in the love you have showered over me ......Your banner over me IS Love ......because of Jesus ....I AM CHOICE ....and PRECIOUS in Your sight ......Glory be to God .......Bless my friends today with a spirit of ACCEPTANCE ....in Jeus name I pray ......AMEN!!! BECAUSE OF JESUS .....YOU ARE ACCEPTED ......and YOU ARE LOVED!!!!
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 13:43:20 +0000
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