Romans 3:10-18; 21-24
The Scriptures tell us, "No one is acceptable to God! Not one of them understands or even searches for God. They have all turned away and are worthless. There isn't one person who does right. Their words are like an open pit, and their tongues are good only for telling lies. Each word is as deadly as the fangs of a snake, and they say nothing but bitter curses. These people quickly become violent. Wherever they go, they leave ruin and destruction. They don't know how to live in peace. They don't even fear God."
Now we see how God does make us acceptable to him. The Law and the Prophets tell how we become acceptable, and it isn't by obeying the Law of Moses. God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
About once a week now, I get an e-mail message from a friend or acquaintance that contains “outrageous” information about this politician or celebrity or a current hot topic. People are hitting the “send” button without doing homework and any investigation – assuming the claims are true. They start their forwarded message with an “endorsement” such as “I’m outraged!” or “This made my blood boil!” Were it not so serious, it would almost be laughable at times, because the claims made in the e-mail message appear so ridiculous that you wonder how anyone could have believed them.
But my point is not to make a political or social commentary today about e-mail forwards. My point is that we make snap judgments – all the time. And my question is … “What if our Heavenly Father operated this way?” What if God took a look at you and me and said, “He/she is worthless … there is nothing there to redeem. I saw that indiscretion. I heard that gossip. I see how he/she conducts his/her daily life … I know the thoughts swirling in his/her head, and I am outraged. It makes my blood boil.”
What if God didn’t see our heart? What if He had not sent Jesus to die on the cross and cover our sins, indiscretions and impure thoughts with His own blood? What if we never had the opportunity to invite Jesus to wash us clean and place His Holy Spirit in our hearts, so that God looks deeper and sees beyond our sins?
We all want God to love us … to forgive our sins and accept us – warts and all. But so often, we are totally unwilling to do the same for others. We make snap judgments based on appearance, what we heard through the grapevine, or our own biases and prejudices. Read these verses again. “No one is acceptable to God … there isn’t one person who does right … all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” But the beautiful part is that “God treats us much better than we deserve … He freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.”
We’re willing to accept God’s grace, mercy, love and forgiveness … but are we willing to offer the same to others? Where have you made snap judgments? Where do you need to ask for – and offer – forgiveness? If we are unwilling to pay forward what God has done for us, perhaps we have not truly accepted the gift of salvation offered to us by Jesus Christ.
In order to truly receive acceptance from God – and all of the gifts and blessings He offers us – we must be willing to accept others in His name. Will you “pick and choose” and make rash judgments … or are you ready for the good stuff that comes with letting Jesus work in and through your life? None of us is more acceptable to God than the next. But through faith in Jesus, we can all be set free.
In the words of one person who responded to a group e-mail I received, “Why can’t we all just get along?” It would seem to me that God might be asking this same question of His children. Where do you fit in this? Are you treating others better than they deserve – as God does for us – or are you making snap judgments and leaving ruin and destruction? Don’t you think it’s time we start learning how to live in God’s peace? Isn’t today a good time to begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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