Seeing Acceptance

The secretary in the living room has three shelves at the top with glass doors, a drop down desk in the middle and three drawers at the bottom. The three shelves at the top are filled with some of the nativity scenes that my mom collected throughout the years. She had every size and shape, small, large, wooden, plastic, ceramic, crystal, stone. There were many different ones. She collected them for many years. A lot of them she bought. Some she received as gifts. Some were made by the kids or the grandkids. 

The funniest story is about the one she found. She pulled out of the driveway onto the road. She just happened to look over at the side of the road. She saw something lying there, kind of sticking up out of the mud, but couldn’t really tell what it was. It peaked her interest enough to stop and get out of the car to investigate. It was a tiny, plastic mangled nativity scene. I truly have no idea how she noticed it in the first place. As mushed and mangled as it was, it did contain Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and two lambs.  There are eight or nine slots empty that probably previously contained, additional animals, shepherds, angels and wise men. 

She pulled it out of the mud, brought it home and cleaned it up. The funny part is that she treasured this little mangled, plastic nativity scene just as much as she did the undamaged, fancy, shiny ones.  Even though it was completely different from any other nativity scene she had, she accepted it just the same as the others. 

In Romans 15, Paul was starting to wrap up his letter to the Romans.  In verses five through seven he was talking about acceptance of others and working together. 

He was encouraging the believers there in Rome to live harmoniously together as he prayed for the God of patience and consolation to help them become likeminded in accordance with Christ Jesus. 

Paul appealed to them to seek to have one mind and one voice to glorify God, who is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. He encouraged them, even through the challenges, to accept one another in the same way that Christ had accepted them. This was all to honor and glorify God. 

What is the challenge for Christ followers from these verses? Unity is difficult in the, “I want everything my way” world we live in, and finding acceptance or giving acceptance can be tough. So our challenge could be in seeking to be likeminded, working together in unity and accepting each other as Christ would. 

How can we apply this to our lives? We can embrace the help that the God of patience and consolation is willing to give us and use it to work together as one. We can glorify God through our unity. We can work at being more accepting of others, as Christ would. 

What does this mean to my faith? God is there to lead and guide and help me out in the areas of relationship. My faith is strengthened during the times that I feel God’s Spirit leading me in accord with others that are like minded and we encourage and receive others to the glory of God. 

Lord, thank You that even the least of these can come to You and You receive them as You would the most noble. Help me to find common ground and ways to engage in fellowship with and acceptance of others.

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“5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”  Romans 15:5-7 (KJV) 

“And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:”  Jeremiah 32:39 (KJV)

“For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.”  Zephaniah 3:9 (KJV)

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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.   

What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe?  Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him?  You can know Him.  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity.  You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.  

Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ!  PeaceWithGod.net

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