Acceptance Does Not Require Approval

In review of Romans 15:7 it says, “Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory”

Bottom Line:

Honor God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you.

What this means to me:

I am to accept others, just as Christ has accepted me. This brings praise to God.

Today's passage comes from Romans 15 where Paul is talking about living to please others.  In this he explains that we must not just please ourselves. Rather we should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. God who gives patience and encouragement, can help us live in complete harmony with others. Then all of us can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God. Therefore, we are to accept each other just as Christ has accepted us, so that God will be given glory. Paul ends this section with asking God to fill us with complete joy and peace because of our trust in him. Then we will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

This means that every time I show love, it gives glory to God. Because God is love, and glory is revealing what God is really like.

God says, “I am loving. I am compassionate. He wants me to be like him. He wants me to develop his character.” I never going to be God, but God does want me to become godly. He wants me to develop his character. Like father like son. He wants me to learn to love people the way he loves people. God is love.

Every time I do this, it shows God’s glory.

One of the ways I love others is just by accepting them. Just because I don’t like what people do doesn’t mean I can’t accept them.

There’s a difference between acceptance and approval? I can accept someone without approving of everything that person does. There is a big difference! In Scripture we are told to accept everybody; we are not to approve everything everybody does. So no matter what people do or who they do it with or how they do it, or how long they do it, I’m to love them. I’m to accept them. It does not mean that I approve of what they do. God loves me, but it doesn’t mean he approves of everything I do.

Love is not saying I approve of everything you do. Love is saying I accept you in spite of what you do.

As pointed out in this verse in Romans 15:7, it says, “Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory” (NLT).

Today I should consider those whom I don’t accept mainly because I don’t approve of their actions and beliefs.  I can accept and love, while not approving, revealing a heart like God’s.