To be accepted
How much would you pay in order to get in that university you always
dreamed of? And how much for that desired vacation or in order to become a
member of an exclusive group? How much is the perfect outfit worth? How can we
calculate the price of being accepted, integrated, and valued in human society?
We usually have to pay to be accepted. In clubs, parties, groups. In events and meetings. Even at church, sometimes. One spends much money to get the outfit, shoes, accessories, car, house, person, well... that which will make him a part of that group he admires. Human beings are willing to spend huge amounts of money for the feeling of being accepted and included. Humans crave a sense of belonging.
But there is just one acceptance that truly changes our lives. How much would you be willing to pay for it?
Forget the math. There is no need for payment. And, actually, you would never be able to pay for it. This acceptance is given to you...free of charge.
Maybe that is the reason why many times it is despised. If it is for free, maybe it is not that cool. Might it be that religious groups have "fees" under the cloak of "offerings?" But, God's favor is Free for all. It can not be bought. Paying to be accepted is not true acceptance!
We don’t have to spend a penny for God’s acceptance, not even a down payment. The entire price, extremely high, was paid in full by His Son – it cost him his own blood. In other words, God’s acceptance is a gift, received through faith. All that we can do is to thank this loving Father for this gracious gift which grants us access to our true identity of sons and makes us live up to our divine sonship.
By knowing that true acceptance cannot be bought we are able to reject any deal that subjects acceptance to an amount of money, looks or anything else. For it is just not the way God intended it to be.
In Christ we don’t have to pay for God’s acceptance. And we will never be able to calculate how much this means!
We usually have to pay to be accepted. In clubs, parties, groups. In events and meetings. Even at church, sometimes. One spends much money to get the outfit, shoes, accessories, car, house, person, well... that which will make him a part of that group he admires. Human beings are willing to spend huge amounts of money for the feeling of being accepted and included. Humans crave a sense of belonging.
But there is just one acceptance that truly changes our lives. How much would you be willing to pay for it?
Forget the math. There is no need for payment. And, actually, you would never be able to pay for it. This acceptance is given to you...free of charge.
Maybe that is the reason why many times it is despised. If it is for free, maybe it is not that cool. Might it be that religious groups have "fees" under the cloak of "offerings?" But, God's favor is Free for all. It can not be bought. Paying to be accepted is not true acceptance!
We don’t have to spend a penny for God’s acceptance, not even a down payment. The entire price, extremely high, was paid in full by His Son – it cost him his own blood. In other words, God’s acceptance is a gift, received through faith. All that we can do is to thank this loving Father for this gracious gift which grants us access to our true identity of sons and makes us live up to our divine sonship.
By knowing that true acceptance cannot be bought we are able to reject any deal that subjects acceptance to an amount of money, looks or anything else. For it is just not the way God intended it to be.
In Christ we don’t have to pay for God’s acceptance. And we will never be able to calculate how much this means!
Rev. Lucas André Albrecht
Senior Chaplain at Ulbra,
Parish Pastor at “St. Paul’s” Lutheran Congregation,
Canoas ,RS, Brazil
www.ulbra.br/pastoral
Senior Chaplain at Ulbra,
Parish Pastor at “St. Paul’s” Lutheran Congregation,
Canoas ,RS, Brazil
www.ulbra.br/pastoral
Translation:
Rev. Paulo S. Albrecht
Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
Text
revision
Ms. Kim Starr
MA Practical Theology & Deaconess
Certified
Wisconsin, US
Comentários