1 Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
I was thinking about how relationships in my life have grown through the years. We have all had some relationships that were only there for a period of time in our life, then they were gone. Then there have been relationships that have outlasted time and difficulties. What is it that makes the difference concerning the relationships we have with others?
ACCEPTANCE
Acceptance is the first step in any relationship. However, when we think in terms of acceptance, we must also think in terms of being acceptable. There is a big difference between the two. The book of Ephesians describes how in our relationship with Jesus Christ, we are made accepted by Him. The implications are that we are not acceptable on our own, we must be made acceptable by the work of Christ. Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Accepted means to be honored or highly favored by the source of His grace. Because of the plurality of this verse that He has made us accepted, indicates that we belong to each other, who have been endowed with this grace to be made acceptable by His grace. Our declaration to ourselves should be that we are accepted by the grace given to us of the Lord Jesus and this brings praise to the glory of God. How wonderful to think that I bring glory to God based on His own grace that I have received.
HOW DO WE ACCEPT EACH OTHER?
Our acceptance of each other must be by the same means as we have received. To receive grace means that you must become a vessel to give grace. Our acceptance of each other cannot be based on the performance of each other, or we will be completely let down by each other. We must be givers of the same grace we have received. Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Our words must be guarded by grace. This is how we become a vessel or conduits for the blessings of God to flow to others by being ministers of the grace we have received. However, acceptance is not based on the performance of others. We may disagree with certain lifestyles that contradict the character of the family of God, and we should allow grace to teach us to deny ungodly lusts, as we are taught in Titus 2:11-13. It is always grace that tells the truth. It is always grace that supplies the need. It is always grace that does not run or hide or shrink away from any conflict. It is grace that is needed every day in every situation with everyone. We can say that acceptance is not tolerance based on the principle of grace. We do not receive someone based on their performance, and neither do we destroy someone based on their lack of performance. We should be motivated by the grace we have received to be givers of truth, and restoration through the grace of God.
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