CHRISTIANITY AND ACCEPTANCE

When I first joined the family of people we know as Christians, I wanted to be as perfect as the Christians around me, I was so ignorant that I wanted to walk on the exact spot they walked on.

I felt they wouldn’t accept me if I didn’t do the exact things they do, eat what they eat, wear what they wear, and laugh at what they laugh at.
I wasn’t really taught about God’s acceptance.

They were times when I wouldn’t write and post what I wanted to, because I always taught of how they would see me and what they would say about me. I think about the pastors and ministers on my list and think of how they would throw me out of Christianity if they should see what goes on in my mind.

I saw them as people who are too religious and actually hear from God with ear phones. I see them as people who has gone so far with God, that I even wished we could think about the same things.

I really wanted to impress people, totally leaving God out of the picture. I wanted to be perfect. I wanted to write for God, so Christians would see how much I’m gradually becoming like them. I still write for God, but this time, it’s not for show. Now, I write for God because my eyes are opened and I’ve found something even better than impressing people, which is bringing people to God’s kingdom.

Then, I used to think God would only look your way when you’re so perfect in everything you do.
God’s love doesn’t work that way, God is love. He’ll love you, whether you fail or win.
Whether you’re on a long skirt or trousers, God loves you still.
Whether you feel your thoughts are carnal or religious, God loves you still.

Then, I wouldn’t call myself a Christian, because I lived my life based on how people saw me.

Now, I’m a Christian, because I’ve been taught perfect love and I understand that I don’t have to fight for God’s acceptance, I’ve already been accepted by God.

Then, I would only pick out religious people and be friends with them, but now I’ll talk to you no matter how bad you think you are. I won’t deny you love.
I’ve got to preach perfect love and acceptance, before I preach God.

Most Christians don’t believe the Lord’s favour and love toward them is an accomplished fact. It’s
something they long for and hope to obtain, but don’t understand that they already have it. The truth is, God loves you—and He can’t love you any more than He already does. There’s absolutely nothing you can do to make Him love you more or less.

God chose you before you were born, according to Ephesians 1:4, which is : “even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before Him in love.”
That verse makes us understand that we’ve been chosen before we were born.

Your religion may tell you that God loves you based on your performance, but it’s actually because of what Christ did on the cross. The Bible tells us that we’ve already been accepted in love. God’s love for you didn’t start when you cried and responded to altar call to give your life to Christ.
No, he already knows about you and had made provisions for you a long time ago.

The Bible also tells us about our sins being blotted away before we were even born.

“In whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Eph 1:7)

You have already been forgiven—completely! Jesus didn’t forgive just your past sins. He didn’t overlook just the ones you’ve confessed. At the cross, Christ paid for your past, present and even future sins.
Do you see why you shouldn’t listen to the devil whenever he bugs you about unforgiveness.

When you know what God has already done, you’ll pray with confidence.

To understand God, you’ve got to understand love.

You’ve got to understand acceptance too. Some persons fight to be accepted by God. They want to lead holy lives
So, before I tell someone about God, I’ve got to preach love and acceptance first. I’ve got to show love first.
It’s in this manner,
Love,
Acceptance and God.

How would I preach God, when I’ve already condemned your dressing and speech?
Would you even listen to me? I doubt.

Now, I care more about people and their lives after death, than about impressing people and showing off.

No one is born perfect, we’ve got to grow and nurture in Christ. Don’t rush your Christianity.
We’ve got to love, and love again.

It’s okay to doubt my status as a Christian, probably because of how free you think I am, but wait are Christians supposed to be in chains? I’m dead to the world because Jesus lives in me now.
But, I’m doing my best to fight for and maybe with the world.
They say it’s a personal battle, right? I know. It’s no longer personal when people are ignorant and don’t even know who they are fighting with and why they are fighting.
They’ve got a right to know.

Your race is different from mine.
Inasmuch as I want to go to heaven, I don’t want to go alone. I’ll bring as many as I can.
I’ll love whatever way I can.
You should too.
Amen.

©Joy Uchenaya, 2019