What Does The Bible Say About Acceptance
What Does The Bible Say About Acceptance? When faced with a difficult situation, some people are likely to say I give up. Others are likely to disagree saying something like I can work out something with God or If I pray in faith, Ill get what I want. Behold, these are the two extremes that are more likely to surface in discussions about events outside our control. As Christians, what is expected from us in the face of events or happenings that are outside our control? Should we give up? Should we resign ourselves to whatever life hands us? Or should we name-it-and-claim-it to change our destinies? What do the Scriptures really say about accepting events or situations we did not choose? Just as it is with almost every philosophical or spiritual discussion, truth is found somewhere between two extremes.
Neither total resignation nor name-and-claim-it is taught in the whole counsel of God . Although elements of each are present, neither tells the whole story. To find the truth or where the balance lays, we must begin with what we know for certain: God is good, He does all things for the good of those who love Him , He is sovereign over His creation . It is important to understand here that sovereignty means that the One who created everything in existence has the power, might, knowledge, wisdom, and authority to do whatever He wishes with it . In support, Psalm 115:3 says, Our God is in the heavens he does all that he pleases.
How Do I Come To Acceptance
How to accept things
What Does The Bible Say About Homosexuality
Seeing then what we can expect when homosexuality is widely practiced and/or accepted, let us also be reminded about what the Bible has to say about the practice itself.
It is a chosen practice Paul told the Corinthians of certain people who will not inherit the kingdom of God . One of the practices he listed was homosexuality. Immediately following this list, Paul wrote, Such were some of you but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God . Some of the Christians in Corinth had a background in homosexuality. But since coming to Christ, they gave up the practice. That was the choice they made.
Many say that homosexuals are born that way. This has never been proven, but it is still affirmed. However, it cannot be true that certain people are born homosexuals, unable to decide how they will behave sexually. First, we saw that there were Christians in Corinth who were former homosexuals. Second, homosexuality is a sin . Third, God is not one to show partiality . If homosexuality is a sin and people are born this way and cannot change, then God has made it so that certain people cannot be saved. He would be guilty of showing partiality. This cannot be true. God is just and impartial. We choose how we will act.
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Accepting The Words Of God
Soaking in Gods Word daily was another thing I did in accepting the situation. Each morning I spend time in Gods Word reading the verse of the day and the passage that goes along with my devotional. Or I read a section in His Word to study a passage.
Reading and studying Gods Word helps transform your mind to be more like God and gives you the strength and encouragement to go on.
Jesus told a parable or story about sowing seeds. When seeds are sown in good soil, they bear fruit and have a great return .
When we soak in Gods Word, we have a great return as well. It brings strength, comfort, encouragement, and hope. Solomon even said that we will be blessed with a longer life when we accept His Words.
Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.Proverbs 4:10 ESV
Learn To Love Yourself With Your Flaws
We all have spots.
Even the most beautiful people on earth have their challenges.
What you see outwardly isnt always what it truly is.
We must learn to appreciate the works of God.
He has created us, but we have our challenges.
If you are black, there is no reason to feel inferior.
Likewise, if you are white, there is nothing wrong with you.
Or, if you have any form of disability, you must appreciate yourself the way you are.
God loves us so much and has given us life to serve him.
Our beauty and body will decay the moment we die.
All the fuss over how you look will disappear in a second God takes away our life.
So, whats the point of striving to look too beautiful or looking down on yourself?
God is our hope and strength. Love yourself and be contented.
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Foreigners Or Refugees Are Not To Be Oppressed
Do not oppress a foreigner you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.Exodus 23:9
This is the basic rule of thumb: Dont burden foreigners. Notice that the Scripture gives Israel a reason why because they knew how it felt to be a foreigner. Israelites were to call on their empathy for refugees because they had been treated cruelly as refugees who were made into slaves in Egypt. They werent to cheat them or take advantage of them in any way.
And since we, as believers, were once strangers outside Gods kingdom, we can identify with the idea of not belonging as the reason why we treat refugees or displaced people without discrimination.
What Are Religious Works
Religious work must substantially be toward a primary role including one or more of the following: teaching or guidance in religious scripture or philosophy conducting religious initiations, ordination or ritual ministering or pastoral care roles of religious leadership in relation to any of the above.
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Accept Instruction Bible Verses About Accepting Situations
Sometimes we act like Israel did with God and went off course. Israel didnt want to listen to Gods correction. Nor did she trust God or draw near to Him. Israel was off on her own and doing her own thing.
She listens to no voice she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord she does not draw near to her God.Zephaniah 3:2 ESV
Oh, how many times I have strayed! I thought my plans, my way, and my path were the best! Kind of like being in the passenger seat of the car and telling the driver what to do. God is almighty God! He doesnt need our help in directing our lives. The Lord created the whole world and keeps the whole going in place. He can certainly handle my life without my help.
Once I realized this and humbly got down on my knees, I was able to truly listen to what God was telling me. I was willing to accept His instruction.
Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Proverbs 19:20 ESV
Get advice from Godly Counselors
And advice comes from wise Biblical counselors around us. In listening to them and Gods Word through them, we gain wisdom for the next steps ahead of us.
Gods Word gives us choice morsels to memorize and store them in our heart for when hard times come. His words keep us strong because we remember the promises that He has fulfilled. And we remind ourselves how He has so richly provided for us.
Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.Job 22:22 ESV
Jesus Welcomes You Right Where You Are:
Jesus never belittled, shamed, or degraded people. Especially those who were a mess. When Jesus spent time with hurting people they felt seen, accepted, worthy, loved, forgiven and rescued.
The lost For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.
The sinners Come now, let us settle the matter, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18
The sick While Jesus was having dinner at Matthews house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? On hearing this, Jesus said, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Matt 9:10-13
The rebellious son Read the story of the prodigal son Luke 15:11-32
The tax-collector Read the story of Zacchaeus Luke 19:1-10
The adulterous woman Read the story of the woman accused John 8:1-11
The outcast Read the story of the Samaritan Woman John 4:4-42
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Do You Know These Bible Verses About Loving Others Unconditionally
What does loving-kindness mean in the Bible? The Bible is full of references to Gods loving-kindness, or unconditional love. Not only does the Bible talk about how God loves us unconditionally, it tells us to love others Unconditionally!
John 6:35-37 Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.
But how do you love others unconditionally? Especially in the Church where we tend to see some of the worst most hypocritical behavior? The writer of Hebrews tells us that loving each other as Christians means living in a community.
Hebrews 10:24-25 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Scripture about loving others unconditionally calls Christians to be in community with each other.
Living in a community is a way to apply these Bible verses about acceptance of others! I found this out when going through a season of Grief.
Read more about what helps when you are grieving at Embracing The Unexpected.
What Are Some Live Words
The 75 Most Inspiring Words to Live by
- Listen, smile, agree, and then do whatever you were going to do anyway. …
- Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there’s footprints on the moon. …
- Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one. …
- Everything happens for a reason.
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Bible Verses About Self Love And Acceptance
Self-love is the regard for ones well-being and happiness.
That is, you find the best way possible to make yourself happy despite all your troubles.
But what does the bible say about self-love?
Is it scriptural to love yourself more than others?
The good news is that there are many bible verses about self-love that we can learn from.
In fact, we can learn from numerous examples in the scripture.
How did Christ behave on earth? Was he an advocate for self-love?
The truth is there is nothing wrong with trying to find happiness and loving yourself.
With lots of troubles we face daily, we must search internally for our joy.
We must build our self-esteem and make sure we are content with who we are.
Having said that, self-love taken too far is a sin.
That is, when you put yourself first, before the needs of others.
Or when you are self-reliant on your abilities with pride and arrogance.
God hates the proud and blesses the humble.
Christ said,
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:34-35
I have put together bible verses about self-acceptance and self-love.
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Your eyes are doves
Christs Servant Ministry To Israel And His Mercy To The Gentiles Serve As Our Example Of What It Means To Accept One Another
Romans 15:8-9a: For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promisesgiven to the fathers,and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy . Verses 8 & 9 explain how Christ accepted both Jews and Gentiles: He became a servant to the circumcision to confirm the promises made to the fathers and, He became a servant so that the Gentiles would glorify God for His mercy . Verse 8 is a reminder to the Gentiles in Rome that God had given priority to Israel, as Paul explained at length in chapter 11. The Gentiles are grafted in to the olive tree and so must not become arrogant . The following quotes from the Old Testament remind the Jews that the promises to the Jewish fathers included the reception of the Gentiles. Thus neither group should look down on the other.
A. Christs servant ministry to Israel shows that God faithfully keeps His promises on the basis of grace, not performance .
Paul uses the word circumcision to refer to the Jews because it was the sign of the covenant to Abraham . The truth of God here refers to His covenant faithfulness by which He remains true to His promises to Israel through the patriarchs . God did not fulfill His promises to Israel because of Israels faithfulness to God. He did it on the basis of grace, not performance.
B. Christs mercy to the Gentiles leads to Gods glory and shows us that the basis of acceptance is Gods grace, not performance .
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Bible Verses About Sinners
Scripture makes it clear that sin is the transgression of the law of God. Its missing the mark and falling short of Gods standard. A sinner is someone that violates the divine law. The sin is the crime.
However, the sinner is the criminal. Lets look to see what the Bible has to say about sinners.
Quotes
- A church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.
- You are no saint, says the devil. Well, if I am not, I am a sinner, and Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. Sink or swim, I go to Him other hope, I have none. Charles Spurgeon
- My evidence that I am saved does not lie in the fact that I preach, or that I do this or that. All my hope lies in this: that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. I am a sinner, I trust Him, then He came to save me, and I am saved. Charles Spurgeon
- We are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners. R.C. Sproul
Does God Tell Us To Love Ourselves
Scripture doesnt tell us directly to love ourselves because it is expected that self-love would come naturally. Nourish, cherish and love your body and your soul. God made it, after all, and He made it in His image. He designed you and carved you out and made you perfect just the way you are, and He loves you for it.
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Which Is Better Utilitarianism Or Kantianism
It is easier to determine an action as morally right in Kantian ethics than in utilitarian ethics. When data is scarce, Kantian theory offers more precision than utilitarianism because one can generally determine if somebody is being used as a mere means, even if the impact on human happiness is ambiguous.
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Praying And Waiting Bible Verses About Accepting Situations
When my job had changed, I did A LOT of praying! At first, it was prayers of not understanding why this had happened. Then I realized that I had been praying for months and even years for God to change the situation. It was hard to deal with the issues at work and I was not content at all.
But when we pray to God and ask for a change in the situation, He hears us.
The Lord has heard my plea the Lord accepts my prayer.Psalm 6:9 ESV
Through not From
God may not deliver us from the situation but will be with us through it. He promises that we will not be overwhelmed or consumed by the situation.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.Isaiah 43:2 ESV
We need to trust Him that He will do as He has said. He has kept every promise to date and He wont stop now.
Sometimes we will be waiting for a while. I waited a long time for a change in my situation at work. And I went back to school for another Masters degree. However, that wasnt Gods plan and I was off of His Path. I needed to change my heart and attitude about the work I was doing. The timing was not right for the change He wanted. In Gods timing, He will answer us in love. And He did that for me.
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.Psalm 69:13 ESV
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