ROMANS 15:7

“Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us, for the glory of God.”

In my years of ministry, probably one of the biggest desires of the children and youth I worked with was the need to feel accepted. I spent many years working with abused and neglected children who were cast away by their parents. These parents chose drugs, alcohol or partners over their children. These children longed for acceptance from just about anyone which led many to choose poor relationships themselves. It was truly heartbreaking.

Paul urges us today in verse 7 of Romans 15 to “accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us.” Do you truly understand your acceptance by Christ? Do you feel the depth of His love and sacrifice for you? Most of us don’t. We doubt it when times get tough. Where is God when I’m hurting? Have you ever said that? I have to admit I have felt that at times. But His acceptance isn’t just relegated to here. His acceptance is eternal. Wow!

APPLICATION

Paul uses a verb here that is used a dozen times in the New Testament, five times by him. I love the definition in HELPS Word-studies, “aggressively receive, with strong personal interest.” Doesn’t that change the way you see how Christ accepts you? Paul uses the word back in Romans 14:1 and 3, twice here in today’s verse and once in Philemon 1:17 when he instructs Philemon to accept Onesimus as if he was accepting him.

Christ accepts us while we are yet sinners. Never forget that. He doesn’t expect us to clean ourselves up first. He picks us up right where we are and He does the cleansing. When Paul says that Christ accepts us, he uses the Aorist Indicative Middle. I know that blessed you, lol. But listen, that means he is stating a fact about what Christ did and the middle voice means Christ chose to do that. He chose to accept you. That should light your spiritual fire.

And when Paul tells us to “accept one another,” it’s a Present Imperative Middle. That means it’s a command that you should continually do but, again, you choose to follow that command. Is there someone you need to choose to accept today? Make it a point to reach out to them and share how much God loves them. Tell them you love them too and want to walk with them in their spiritual journey. You will be the blessed one.

Thank You, Lord, for accepting me. Help me accept others with the same passion.

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