Being accepted is a basic human need. We were created that way. It is the idea of being welcomed and loved without the fear of rejection or judgement. Acceptance among others is important and can be a huge factor when it comes to identity. Acceptance can affect a person's self-worth, sense of value, worthiness and overall belonging!
You may have experienced the excitement and relief of being accepted into a training program, a college, or a club and that kind of acceptance can really set the trajectory for the rest of your life. Therefore, acceptance is important!
In Ephesians 1:6 the apostle Paul continues His word of encouragement to the church with these words: "to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved."
The term "accepted" carries a much deeper meaning here than the way we understand it and use it today. "You are Accepted" doesn't mean that you simply "made it in." It means that you are encompassed with favor; honored with blessing! This kind of acceptance guarantees that all who have been saved by God’s grace have been “accepted” by the Lord into the Beloved, the assembly, the Body of Christ, the family of God. You are accepted into it and you are accepted in it!...
And...it gets deeper:
This Greek word Paul uses here (Charitoo – khar-ee-tah -o) occurs only one other time in the New Testament - it's in Luke 1:28 in the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary:
"And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" (NKJ)
You are not merely accepted, you are highly favored by God!
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE HIGHLY FAVORED BY GOD?
For Mary, it meant to have the opportunity to be used powerfully by God. To be used to bring about His plan! That's what it meant then and that's what it means now. That's what it meant for Mary and that's what it means for You! God's plan for Mary was to give birth to the Savior. God's plan for you will be something specific and essential for His Kingdom plan as well!
During this 21-Day journey of prayer and fasting, pray that God will reveal to you, just as clear and specific as he did to Mary, how He wants to use you to carry out His plan through you - a Chosen, Loved, Adopted, Accepted Child of God with meaning, value, worth and PURPOSE!
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