Accepting people must be a part of every Christian’s life. Although some folks are much easier to accept, it does not change the truth. Jesus mercifully accepts people without preference and we must do the same.
In our passage today, the Apostle Paul writes to remind the Roman believers (and us) to work toward unity. I’m not sure how you might define unity, but for me I always come back to the word “connection.” A Christian is to remain in oneness or unity with other believers because of his or her connection to Christ—we remain in a bond of love. We accept others based on Christ’s love. We may not be able to affirm their personal life choices, but we can certainly accept them and welcome them into God’s family.
The beauty of God’s family is we should all be thinking about Jesus the same way; as the One to Whom we owe our lives. With that mindset, we are filled with a spiritual hospitality and compassion. We run to listen and heal others. We seek to understand things that wound or break the heart of others. We are salt! We are light!
Romans 15:7-13 NLT 7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. 8 Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. 9 He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote:
“For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing praises to your name.”
10 And in another place it is written,
“Rejoice with his people,
you Gentiles.”
11 And yet again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles.
Praise him, all you people of the earth.”
12 And in another place Isaiah said,
“The heir to David’s throne will come,
and he will rule over the Gentiles.
They will place their hope on him.”
13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Father, thank you helping us as your children embrace the right attitude about others. Continue to grow us to be people who accept others the way Christ accepts us. Holy Spirit, help us to be tolerant and respectful when we meet other believers who do not see things the way we do. Convict us when we try to make others in our image; rather than accept others made in your image. We rejoice in your love and we seek to share it with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.