Monday, August 11, 2008

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: Romans 15:7-13

PSALM OF THE WEEK: Psalm 117

HYMN OF THE DAY: CH# 703 “When All is Ended” [no link available]

VERSE OF THE DAY: Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.  Romans 15:7 NIV

 

Why do people outside the church think that people inside the church are hypocrites? They have seen people not accept others with the same acceptance they received from Christ.  We have to accept others into the fold of God.  Whatever they did, whoever they are, whatever their opinions, we are equal in Christ Jesus, for the same blood that washed away all our sins did the same for theirs.  If it couldn’t, or wouldn’t, then it would be worthless and we too would still be captive to our sins.  We have to accept others, just as Christ accepted us.  Sometimes people look down on our church because we accept as members anyone who comes forward and accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  We don’t vote on who “gets to” join.  God decides that, not us.  We don’t try to keep the “undesirables” out of church, for they (including “we”) are the ones Christ died for.  To accept others, with whom we disagree, as Christ commands is to follow his commandment that we “love one another as Christ loves us” (see John 15:12).Love others as Christ loves us.  Accept others as Christ accepts us.  To do these two things is to be the Church.

 

PRAYER: O God who made me, redeemed me, and accepts me; help me to accept others and love others the same way. Amen.

 

See you in Church Sunday,

Pastor Sandy

 

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