Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Romans 15:7
When first meeting someone, there are times you can sense whether that person will accept you or not. You may have feelings, if you were to approach me, on whether I will listen to you or even care what is on your heart. It would be wonderful if you could accept me as I am, inside I want to be more like Jesus—the problem is you’d have to accept that big hunk of me that isn’t. My desire is simple, you don’t have to do anything to prove yourself to me and I hope for the same acceptance from you.
To simply accept others is truly a matter of faith, no conditions or deeds required. Jesus was so accepting of others that he was “reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper” (Mk 14:3), that my friend is acceptance. Jesus doesn’t have any conditions or ask anything of you, just trust Him, and in turn he will touch you, healing your heart (Eph 2:8).
I think of people who received more than they expected by accepting Jesus. One woman that accepted Jesus wanted to touch the hem of His garment (Mt 9:19-21); Bartimaeus, a blind man accepted Jesus unseen, yet, called out, “have mercy on me” (Mk 10:46-48), and countless others who accepted Jesus found healing in body and being, because Jesus responded in unconditional acceptance of them. Acceptance is a virtue of Jesus and is the delicious fruit of humility (Phil 2:1-13, Col
When you accept someone and they accept you, you will find yourself in the midst of a great healing. The focus of that healing is to simply accept one another as we are. That’s exactly how Jesus accepts you—just as you are—when you accept Him, there comes healing to your entire being. The wounds on your spirit are healed, salvation comes.
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