Shirley Elliott

Posted by Rick Warren

God has made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6 (NKJV)
“God loves you unconditionally and accepts you for who you are. ”

Many of us base our self confidence on what other people think, so we work hard at being accepted. We buy things, we wear things, we join things — all just for the benefit of trying to be accepted by our friends, family, co-workers and peers.

But our verse today says God has already accepted us in Jesus Christ.

Does God say you have to earn the acceptance? That you could ever deserve it? No. The Bible just says, God has accepted you.

If you’re a believer, then you’ve accepted Jesus into your life. But do you understand that God accepts you? He loves you unconditionally and accepts you for who you are.

Psalm 27:10 says, “Even if my mother and father forsake me, the Lord will receive me.”

Some of you grew up with unpleasable parents. They were perfectionists. No matter how much you tried, you couldn’t get their approval. If you got B’s, they wanted A’s. If you got A’s, they wanted A+’s. No matter what you did it was never, ever good enough. Even today you’re still trying to earn their love and approval.

If that’s the case — with your parents or with anyone else in your life you’ve been seeking to please — there are two things you need to know:

In all likelihood, you’re never going to get that approval or acceptance. Not because of who you are but because of who they are.

You don’t need their approval because you are acceptable to God. You don’t need their approval to be happy.
What a relief that is to understand. You only need the love and approval of one person, and you already have it: God says you are acceptable!

Monday July 26 2010 12:00 AM
Posted by Rick Warren