Revelaing Me: Acceptance

John 15:18-20 (King James Version)

18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

When I read this verse, I felt convicted... how dare I stress or worry about what other people think of me... The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you...

Jesus was hated so much, that he was crucified. Compared to the persecution I will receive from others for my faith - IT IS NOTHING. HOW DARE I!

It is so hard not to get wrapped up in our own little world. To start to think that we are the centre of the universe.

In my life, I have struggled with wanting to be accepted. If I am trying to be accepted by the world, then that will only mean that I will do worldly things! However, if I am trying to win the favour of the Lord, then I should be doing Holy things.

Galatians 1:10 (King James Version)
10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Do Not Worry

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Throughout my life, I have searched for acceptance. I have received it, but usually from the wrong people. When this happens, I am not happy, I am not living my life for God. It is so hard not to worry about the clothes we wear (or don't get to wear). The food we eat (or don't get to eat). It is so hard to not care about these, especially when it comes from worldly and materialistic desires.

How is it that we can be like Jesus, think like Jesus, act like Jesus, when we are such sinful beings. I am learning the answer. We can't! We alone cannot do it. From birth, we are evil, we are of the world. When we are saved, we can be a whole new being.

A great sermon that has inspired me to look deeper at my walk: http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/trial/faith-in-your-new-birth