I Can Accept Others Without Approving of Everything They Do

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

Today’s verse comes from Romans 15:2-9, where Paul is speaking about living to please others. He tells me that I must not just please myself, rather I should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn't live to please himself. The scriptures will give me hope and encouragement as I wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled. May God, who gives me this patience and encouragement, help me to live in complete harmony with others, as is fitting for a follower of Christ Jesus. Then I can join with others in one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father our my Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, I am to accept others just as Christ has accepted me so that God will be given glory. Christ came as a servant to the Jews, to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them.   

My knowledge of the Scriptures affects my attitude toward the present and the future. The more I know about what God has done in years past, the greater the confidence I will have about what he will do in the days ahead. I should read God's Word diligently to increase my trust that God's will is best for me.

Accepting means for me to take people into my heart, home, caring, kindness, avoiding racial and economic discrimination. I must go out of my way to avoid favoritism. Consciously spend time greeting those I don't normally talk to, minimize differences, and seek common ground for fellowship. In this way I am accepting others as Christ has accepted me, and God is given the glory.

Every time I show love, it gives glory to God? Because God is love, and glory is revealing what God is really like.

In a sense, God says, “I am loving. I am compassionate. I want you to be like me. I want you to develop my character.” I’ll never be God. But God says he wants me to become godly. He wants me to develop his character. Like father, like son; like father, like daughter. He wants me to learn to love people the way he loves people. God is love.

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

Of course, 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 people without approving of everything they do. There is a big difference! I am to accept everybody; I do not need to approve of everything everybody does. So no matter what people do or whom they do it with or how they do it or how long they do it, I am to love them. I am 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.

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

Bottom Line:

Accept one another, then, for the glory of God, as Christ has accepted you.

What this means to me:

I will honor God by accepting others just as Christ has accepted me. When I do God will be given the glory by my actions.

In summary, I shouldn't be just concerned with myself only. I should help others do what is right and help to build them up in the Lord. May the Lord, who gives me patience and encouragement, help me to live in complete harmony with others. I am to accept others just as Christ has accepted me. When I do, God will be given the glory. Accepting means that I take people into my heart. I go out of my way to to avoid favoritism. I consciously spend time greeting this I don't normally talk to and seek common ground for fellowship. In this way I am accepting others as Christ has accepted me. For every time I show love, it gives glory to God. God is love, and the glory is revealing what God is really like. God tells me that his is loving, compassionate and that He wants me to be like him. To develop his character. He wants me to learn to love others the way he loves me. I love others by accepting them. Just because I don't lie what people do doesn't mean I can't accept them. I can accept without approving of what they do. Love is saying I accept them in spite of what they do.

This morning Father I thank you for a great weekend, for time with my grandson. I ask today that you help remind me of what I’ve learned today, to accept and love others just the way you have loved and accepted me. Help me to be a little more outgoing and to take an interest in others and greet those I would normally be quiet around. Also I ask that you grant me wisdom and guidance in what I do. Allow me to lead others well and the respond rightly to those I interact with. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name, amen!