7th Floor Devotional Day 8: ”Overflowing Acceptance”

DEVOTIONAL DAY 8 - “Overflowing Acceptance.”

Our nation seems to know little about how to be accepting of people not like us. Think of the political divides that can separate families. Or the racial tensions that keep cities divided by attitudes, relationships, and even rivers. I am sure that each of us has personal stories of those who have judged us, didn't accept us, marginalized us, and treated us as less than they should have. And unfortunately, we may have even done the same to others. 

Often, our attitude can be, "If you live up to my expectations, I will accept you." But, this reverses the order of Jesus, who came full of grace (first) and then truth. What drew people to Jesus was His tremendous acceptance of each individual: His love, mercy, and nonjudgmental attitude. He was always willing and ready to share the truth, but it was only in the context of overflowing acceptance and love. Grace always comes before truth. Overflowing acceptance of others is the key to living like Jesus.

We are probably familiar with the account of Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at the well. The account is found in John 4. Jesus was in Samaria on purpose. Most Jews walked around Samaria, but Jesus chose to walk through Samaria because He was always about people. On that journey, He sat down at a well and asked a Samaritan woman for a drink. Jesus uses an ordinary conversation to bring her into a discussion regarding living water (spiritual things).

The conversation here is interesting. The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water so I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back." "I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true." "Sir," the woman said, "I can see you are a prophet."

Notice that there was no condemnation in Jesus' words. On the contrary, He was "matter of fact" without judgment, and she took no offense. She recognized that He must be a prophet, and she returned to her village and said, "Come see a man who told me everything I ever did. Can this be the Messiah? 

The result was that "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman's testimony. So when the Samaritans came to Him, they urged Him to stay with them, and He stayed two days. And because of His words, many more became believers."

Think about this. Would any of this have happened if Jesus had not led with grace and overflowing acceptance? Not a chance. When we follow the example of Jesus in our relationships, people are attracted to us. Many people don't respond to Jesus because they don't like the judgmental and insensitive attitudes of those who call themselves Christ followers. Seventh-floor culture takes its cues from Jesus, who came full of grace and truth and showed overflowing acceptance to those who came across His path.

So here is your prayer for today: Lord, thank you for your overflowing acceptance and love. Please teach me how to accept and honor all people as your image bearers. In Jesus' name. Amen.