The Hurdle of Acceptance

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Eph 1:6 AV)

This is one of those verses that is probably preached often or written much about.  The simple truth is not hard to comprehend.  At least that which the writer is saying.  What we struggle with is how something so simple can be so true.  To say that the grace of God has made us accepted in the beloved is not an easy thing to accept.  Not when one comes to the end of him or herself.  When the sinner or saint realized just how despicable he or she is, it is a hard thing to feel accepted.  We know we have failed.  We know we have failed completely.  We know there is nothing redeemable in our existence.  We have offended a holy God in ways that are too embarrassing to mention.  We are lowly, pathetic, carnal, and downright wicked.  Why would God accept any of us?  Worst of all is me.  Why would God accept me?  The list is too long and too horrible to think anyone, let alone God, would accept me.  I am filth incarnate.  As I wrote above, the facts of the verse are not hard to understand.  It is God’s grace that makes us accepted.  It is the only way.  We have nothing to give, nor can do, that will make us accepted.  The offense is too great.  It is only by God’s grace we are accepted in the offering of Christ.

Our human relationships are often based on quid pro quo.  We give what we get and get what we give.  The idea of total acceptance regardless of the nature of the relationship is often foreign to us.  A child earns his parent's appreciation and love by being obedient.  He is affirmed when he reaches his potential.  A student is graded and the teacher’s intercourse with him or her changes based on those grades, behavior, and participation in class.  Even spouses can be this way.  There can be situations where affirmation might be lacking.  Failure to appreciate the presence of one’s spouse can lead to a cold shoulder in return.  Trials of life can also enter that strain the marriage relationship.  Affirmation is often based on performance.  A nod of acknowledgment is returned.  Rarely is it offered without some encouragement from the receiver.  When someone passes in a car or walks by the house, eye contact is what initiates a greeting.  Why is that?  Do we not offer a greeting regardless of initial affirmation?  This is how we are.  This is how people are wired.  We are not wired to exercise grace.  We are not wired to show compassion, understanding, and forgiveness.  We are not wired to take the initiative to affirm another person’s worth.  We wait until some type of evidence, no matter how small, is offered before we return affirmation.  In short, we do not feel completely affirmed because there is something we feel we must do to earn it.

In our passage, affirmation or acceptance is totally and completely based on the grace of God.  We are accepted because God accepts us.  And for no other reason.  In Christ, our sin debt has been paid and there is nothing to stand between us and our God.  When He sees us, He sees us with rose-tinted glasses.  Tinted by the blood of His dear Son.  This truth is not to understand.  It is hard to accept.  Our pride will not allow us to accept it.  We feel as though we are so horrible, that God cannot possibly show that much grace.  Surely we deserve some amount of His wrath.  If He would just allow us to suffer a few brief moments in the pit of hell, it might make us feel better towards His grace.  But if He did that, grace would not be grace.  Grace is a hard thing to accept.  Believing we are accepted is equally difficult.  To meditate on the truth of being accepted by God through the offering of Jesus Christ brings many emotions.  It stirs a feeling of embarrassment because there is nothing desirable within us.  Being accepted stirs humility because there is no way we could ever repay such grace.  Being accepted stirs a heart of gratitude where words fail to express such feelings.  And, acceptance brings joy, contentment, security, and a sense of self-worth.  For our own spiritual and emotional welfare, we must accept God’s acceptance.  We must accept the depth of God’s grace.