GEEK PASTOR DEVO #1 - Acceptance

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
Romans 14:7

Accepting a friendly person who treats you with respect is easy but to accept the mean, unkind person is another story. Jesus said, "Love your enemies," (This is where people can get confused) Christ is not asking you to accept their sins and put your stamp of approval on them. He is asking you to accept them as a human being designed by our Heavenly Father. You don't know what's going on behind the door of their heart and what pain has been afflicted on them to cause them to react in a demeaning manner. Jesus talked with the woman at the well (who had more husbands than J-Lo, and was sleeping with another guy) and no one else would give her the time of day. She responded by trusting Jesus and immediately telling others about this forgiving, loving man. . Loving the unlovely is not easy but Jesus set the example when He loved us. What person do you need to accept ? Why not start by accepting people as Christ accepted you? See, Tina and I are planting a new church in West Palm. And this is one of the founding values of our church... ALL people matter to God. If Jesus could love and accept, a scrub like me. I should at least try to mimic the same attitude.

Prayer: God help me to accept others, just as you have accepted me. Let me see right through their troubles and sins. And see in them what you see in them. Amen.

Thanks, Wayne