A Romans 12 reminder…
“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.” Romans 12, Msg
Loving and accepting someone does not mean you approve of all they do. The Bible says in Romans 15:7, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you” (NIV). Jesus accepts and loves us deeply…that doesn’t mean He approves of everything we do. He knows we are work in progress until we see Him face to face.
How do we love like that? One of the ways you can show love, “from the center of who you are” and acceptance to other people is to listen to them. Love pays attention. Love listens to the fears and the doubts of others and treats them with respect. Love accepts others the way Jesus accepts you. Love like that!
Dear Heavenly Father, Continually change our minds, our “view of things and others”, until we love perfectly like you love us. It is by grace alone that we are accepted by you. Thank you! Now, that we know what love and acceptance truly is, give us Your power to show it to others. We don’t have to approve of what they do to show the love of Christ to them. Yes, change us from the inside out.
In Jesus Name, Amen

In this time of “Valentine’s” and “Likes”, it’s hard to remember that love isn’t a box of chocolates or a thumbs up. It’s about delighting in the beauty of God’s creation, it’s about wanting what’s best for others, and it’s about “playing second fiddle” because Christ always comes first. Thank you for this excellent post.
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Thank you, Heather! I appreciate your comments! There is worldview and God’s view.
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