Acceptance by God

Anyone who has lived in this world for any length of time has experienced rejection at one time or another.  It is an inevitable part of life.  Rejection is even more a part of a Christian's life in this world.  [Note: I am not trying to scare away those people who may not have already accepted Jesus into their hearts and lives.  The Christian life isn't easy.  However, it is still very much worth it!]

Since Jesus Christ experienced rejection, we can also expect to suffer rejection from others.  "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held him in low esteem."  (Isaiah 53:3, NIV)  He suffered much for us.  Likewise, we will also suffer persecution and rejection.  

The disciple Luke affirms the rejection in the life of a true follower of Jesus Christ.  "Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown."  (Luke 4:24, NIV)  As a matter of fact, we are told that we will have trouble in this world.  (John 16:33)  However, we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.  (Romans 8:37)

Little Shepherd boy, David, was initially rejected by both his father, Jesse, and Samuel.  But the Lord told Samuel, "...The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."  (1 Samuel 16:7b, NIV)  David went on to become a king and ruled a country.

Therefore, it does matter what people think or say about us.  We are not to allow people's opinions of us to affect us in a negative way.  We are also not to allow the rejection by people to adversely affect us.  It only matters what our Father thinks and says about us.  His opinion is the only one which really makes a difference.  He accepts all of His children.  (Romans 14:3; Hebrews 12:6) 


Our Father sees and knows us like no other person can or will ever know us.  "God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us."  (Acts 15:8, NIV)


The beloved disciple, John, talks more about our acceptance by God and others.  "Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."  (John 13:20, NIV)  Therefore, we can expect to be accepted by those who accept Him.  

In addition, the Apostle Paul tells us to honor God by our acceptance of others.  "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."  (Romans 15:7, NIV)

No matter what happens in this world---we who are God's children are accepted by Him.  We can rest in that assurance.  We can also rest just knowing that when others don't accept us our Father will always accept us.  It makes a huge difference. 


Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.