So we have explored love one another and prefer one another, today is accept one another. Paul had a life changing adventure on the Road to Damascus. 
In Acts 9 1-4 we read, “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?
Saul encountered Jesus Jesus accepted Saul for who he was and Saul’s name is now Paul. Paul declared Jesus came to save sinners and Paul felt he was the worst of sinners in 1 Timothy 1:15-16.
In accepting others we recognize that all humans are similar and unique. God created us in His image but we each have DNA, fingerprints, and personalities. I love this song by Steven Curtis Chapman “Fingerprints of God. You see everyone created in God’s image according to Genesis 1:27. Jesus purchased us at a high price.
knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your ancestors, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)
To accept one another is not a hard task when we like or love a person. It is harder to accept a person when there is no kinship. But God wants us to willingly accept and love the person even though the person is different from yourself. What if that person hates you, are you willing to pray for that person? How can you minister to the person that does not accept you or your beliefs? When we accept and do not try to change the person, then God’s acceptance is felt. We are not called to be God or the Holy Spirit in a person’s life, we are to love and accept people and trust God to make the needed changes.
Sometimes we struggle accepting a person. Is it the person’s choices that you struggle or the person? The goal is I accept you and I love you even if you have made some choices I do not agree. I can’t do this in my human strength but when we let go and let God my heart softens towards that person.
I have someone in my life right now that hates me and I have struggled accepting this hate.I have made amends but to no avail. But my marching orders from the Lord are kindness. I am praying for this person and the truth of the matter is my being kind will probably not change the person’s mind but walking in forgiveness I can leave this person in the hands of God. I can leave the hate and the pain and accept that I may never have a relationship with this person. I choose to trust God first.
Do you have someone is your life God is asking you to accept? Is there a relationship strained because of you not accepting the person? We are to accept others because God accepts us.
Remember, Romans 15:7,
Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God.
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