Scripture to Read: Romans 15:7
God continues to challenge us in our relationships with each other. As we saw in the last two devotions, God had Paul pray for all believers to be unified and we know how important that is to God. Then God led Paul to write, in Romans 15:7, “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” When we accept each other, we willingly receive each other as a loving family. Remember when our Lord Jesus Christ was asked in Matthew 22:36, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” Jesus did not have to step aside and pray about it; He did not linger and think about it; He immediately responded, and the answer He gave is in Matthew 22:37–40, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Jesus said we must love God and love others. To accept one another is to love one another. We all have weaknesses and areas of our lives that we must crucify daily, but even with those weaknesses, we are to love and accept each other. Jesus even told us in John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” We have to work at this; that is why we’re commanded to love.
Challenge & Application
· What do you need to do to accept all believers in the same way Christ has accepted us as His children?
· How different will your life look as you obey God by accepting all believers?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!