Thursday, March 24, 2011

You Have Potential

Read Romans 15:7-13
Theme: Christian relationships and attitudes.
Title in NIV: Building up others in the Lord.

Accepting others is easier said than done. If we follow Jesus' example we should accept Muslims, Atheist, murderer, rapist, that person who has personally hurt/disappointed you over and over etc. We do not have the 'right' NOT to forgive them.  We do not accept them because we accept their beliefs, agree with them or condone their hurts, we accept them "to bring praise to God." Jesus accepted the Samaritan woman, not what she was doing (John 8), but because she was a child of God. She had potential to turn her life around and praise God.

God does not leave anyone out of His promise. We choose to deny His promise for various reasons (we want to stay in our sin, we are scared about the new responsibility etc.). God wants all to turn to him and like the woman, leave her sin behind.

Paul quotes four scriptures that explains the Gentiles will be accepted. The Jews thought accepting the Gentiles was preposterous. (Reasons: Romans 9:4-5)

You have potential for great hope. Verse 13 says how to get peace, joy and hope. How? Trust in the Holy Spirit. You may not feel anything at first, but be patient and study God's word. Then your trust will be rewarded with joy and peace. The joy and peace you have will lead to overflowing hope. And, yes! There comes responsibility, too. Forgiveness and accepting others.

Have a blessed day. Decide who you will accept today and let them know.

1 comment:

bookworm said...

I pray that I can be accepted, too. I often wonder when I say-"that is a strange person or where did they comes to think that or I'm glad I was brought up better than that", if the other person is thinking or saying the same thing about me. Certainly makes me put my thinking cap and prayer cap on.

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