ACCEPTANCE
Everyone craves acceptance. It’s a basic psychological need to be loved and belong. There are so many things in life where people desire and strive to be accepted: at work, in relationships, on social media, even within their family.
But what good is being accepted by the world, if you’re not accepted by God? Trading in eternal life for 80-odd years in a world full of suffering, craving things that seem great but will never fully satisfy (money, relationships etc.). That sounds like a pretty bad deal to me. This world has nothing to offer us compared to what life with God can - perfect love, peace, forgiveness, grace and acceptance, to name a few.
But how could God accept me? I’m a mess. Guess what, He knows. He knows your flaws, your fears, your deepest, darkest secrets. He sees behind the mask and yet He still loves you! There’s no striving to belong with God – thanks to Jesus Christ! Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can all be accepted by God and into His Kingdom! Our sin meant we were separated from God, but Jesus broke that barrier between us and God, by living a perfect, sinless life and dying on the cross, paying the price for our sins. He then rose again, defeating sin and death itself! He did this so that we could be in right relationship with God, as originally intended, and live forever in perfect peace. It’s such good news!
There’s no striving to belong with God, He has already made a way through Jesus. You are loved and known by the creator of the universe, unconditionally and eternally. If God has accepted you, it doesn’t matter if anyone else rejects you - because ultimately, His opinion of you is the only one that truly matters.
I heard an analogy once, that “living life knowing God has already accepted you, is like taking your driving test knowing you’ve already passed it”. Acceptance from God leads to freedom in life and a whole new identity in Jesus - one of strength, purpose, power and freedom from sin and death!
God’s acceptance is open to anyone who is willing to accept Him. In Matthew 10:32, Jesus says: “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven”. Put simply: If you accept God, He will accept you.
God is knocking, you just have to open the door and let him in.
The Bible says “If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9). If you’re ready to let Jesus be the Lord of your life and be accepted into God’s Kingdom, here is a simple prayer you can say:
"Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. I will no longer close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Saviour. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart Lord, and be my Saviour. Amen."
