Acceptance is a gift. When love is offered and received, acceptance follows. Acceptance is a part of the loving nature of God called grace. Grace is getting what we don’t deserve. Grace is a gift from God. Grace is an invitation that says you are forgiven and wants relationship. God asks each of us to come to Him and receive Him with all your heart, mind and life. Under grace, we are forever in a state of acceptance. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
Why do we need acceptance? God originally designed acceptance as a way of life. Before sin entered in, Adam and Eve were able to relate to God without judgment or condemnation. When Adam and Eve failed to obey God, sin entered into mankind and there began this separation from God. Adam’s fall into sin left humanity without acceptance. Our sinful nature means we are broken and unable to fix ourselves. We are rebellious, prideful, and self-centered, wanting control of our own self and others. Only God’s grace and truth heals, restores and reconciles us back to Him. Relationship with God is possible again when we accept the gift of grace made possible by the Savior’s death and bodily resurrection.
Acceptance provides freedom. Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17). The Law is impossible to live up to. Acceptance in the form of grace, frees us from the bondage of the Law. When we break the law now, we do not lose relationship, we are no longer separated from God and we do not need to prove ourselves worthy. Acceptance is based on relationship, not performance. (Galatians 3:15-23) On the other hand, acceptance does not give us license. Acceptance is not agreement. Not everything we do is acceptable even though we are accepted. We cannot demand what is already a gift.
Acceptance creates initiative. As acceptance increases, so does our awareness of other broken parts of our selves. Truly healthy people know they have good parts, but also own their bad parts. Because they have internalized acceptance, they are able to deal with the truth about themselves knowing “God’s grace is more than sufficient”. Be aware of your need. Take the humble step of confessing your inability and needs to God and others.
Acceptance creates safety to be our selves. Even though others are aware of our failures and hang-ups, we know we are loved and we can rest and dwell in relationship. We can be who we are without fear of being criticized or shamed. When we are in a safe relationship, when asked how you are, we can get beyond “I’m fine. How are you?” We can own our neediness without the fear of abandonment or rejection. When we open up and share about ourselves, their response and feedback may not be what we expected. Some criticism is judgmental, but loving confrontation is a necessary part of spiritual growth. Allow people to disagree with you.
Acceptance creates intimacy. Acceptance creates an environment of safety and encouragement. As we experience comfort, identification and truth without judgment, we begin to heal and grow. We can confess to one another and let someone else know about the negative parts of our selves. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16).
Where there is acceptance, there is growth. When we know we are loved, we have an internal structure that can hold love in. Acceptance builds bonds and bridges the gap between someone having knowledge of us, and having a safe relationship with us. Allowing ourselves to be who we really are strengthens relationship and builds trust. Being received by God and others is not an end to itself. It is the beginning of the safety and grace needed to grow personally, relationally, emotionally and spiritually.
No comments:
Post a Comment