Tag: realize

Receive and Accept One Another

Receive and Accept One Another

Do you realize that the Lord Jesus has made every believer ‘accepted in the Beloved’?  That means that you and I are:

  • Acknowledged,
  • Recognized and known,
  • Received,
  • Established, and
  • Understood—in Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer.

Let’s see what else the Bible has to say on this subject.

Those who receive you are also receiving me, and those who receive Me are receiving the one who sent Me.  (Mt 10:40 CEB)

Whoever received and welcomes a believer, receives and welcomes the Lord Jesus as well as God the Father, who sent Jesus to earth.

 I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another.  (Joh 13:34 AMP)

Jesus has commanded all believers to ‘love one another.’  This is not a suggestion.  It is very clear that believers should accept one another, and try to help and bless one another. We should never put any type of stumbling block in front of a brother or sister in Christ.

Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.  (Rom 15:7 NKJV)

Just as our Lord and Savior has received and established each one of us, we should also do the same with one another in order to bring glory to God.

. . . having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.  (Eph 1:5-6 NKJV, emphasis added)

It was the Lord’s good pleasure to make each one of us ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED, who is Jesus Christ our Savior. Hallelujah! 

Now, turn with open arms and be a welcoming committee to others!

Don’t Criticize Yourself

<strong>Don’t Criticize Yourself</strong>

Most of us don’t realize that as followers of Jesus Christ, we should not criticize ourselves or even think negative things about ourselves!  Does that surprise you?

This is a lesson the Lord had to teach me, and one that He also needs to remind me of from time to time.  It’s a favorite tool of the enemy to get us thinking disapproving things of ourselves, but we must not do it. 

Here are some of the Scriptural reasons to help us to understand the deep, spiritual  importance of this:

  1. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  (Gen 1:27 NIV)

Every human being on earth, whether Christian or not, has been created in the image of God.  Since that is true, EVERYONE deserves to be treated with respect—including ourselves!

  • I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.  (Ps 139:14 ESV)

Since, each human being was given life by the Lord, each individual is a wonderful work of the Lord.  We would never contemplate criticizing one of God’s works, would we?  Then why do we think it’s okay to think pessimistic thoughts about ourselves?

  • . . . everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made.  (Isa 43:7 NASB)

We have each been created to bring God glory.  Our thoughts are much better ordered and employed to meditate upon God and to think worshipful thoughts about Him. Also, it is productive to think of ways to bring Him glory and honor.

  • Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  (1 Cor 6:19 NKJV)

We, as believers, do not belong to ourselves but we belong to God.  Each Christian is a temple of the Holy Spirit.  Just think about the enormity of that honor.

  • . . . and to clothe yourselves with the new nature, which was created according to God’s image in righteousness and true holiness.  (Eph 4:24 ISV)

Our ‘new nature’ since salvation is the one that has ‘put on Christ.’ (Rom 13:14; Gal 3:27)  Our born-again spirit was sealed by God in righteousness and true holiness.  There is nothing within us that we are able to criticize because we belong to God.  Glory to God!

Meditate upon how very important you are to the Lord, and the fact that you belong to Him.  God is with you. Rejoice in His truth!

Abide in God’s Word & Be Made Free

Abide in God’s Word & Be Made Free

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  (John 8:31-32)

The word KNOW in verse 32, above, means to perceive; understand; recognize; or realize.  This is a knowledge that has inception, a progress and an attainment, according to Strong’s concordance (#1097).  It is the recognition of truth by personal experience.

This personal experience suggests a close, personal relationship.  And verse 32 states that we need to abide in [accept, stand in, obey] God’s Word and thereby confirm ourselves to be Christ’s disciples.

In that context, as we personally come to experience the truth of and dependability of God’s Word, it is that same truth that shall set us free from various challenging and destructive experiences in our lives.  It also sets us free from the hurts that other people have inflicted upon us.

God’s steadfast and unfailing love for you can give you such strength and stability in your emotions that you can be made emotionally whole and healthy. 

The best kindness that you can do for yourself is to abide in the Scriptures and become more and more stable and secure in their truth—because you know that God does not lie.  (Num 23:19) 

Rest in Jesus, who has given you the grace, freedom, and strength to live your life to His glory daily!

Note:  This is a reprint of our blog article dated 11/21/2016.