God’s Acceptance, Not Man’s

As we look all over our country and much of the world, we see different images and videos of how we are supposed to be and act. Commercials and other resources say that normal people look a certain way or dress a particular way and sadly, many people within our country buy into this concept. Think of the number of people of who are depressed because of the way they look and/or because someone rejected them.

This happens to most of us and it does not feel good but typically, people who reject you because of the way you look are not the right people for our lives and while it may not be popular to say it, there is nothing wrong with being a little different. After all, we are set apart from the world for a reason and it has nothing to do with fitting into a certain mold for the world’s acceptance. One of the biggest mistakes, however, is people try to change who they are to become something that others desire them to be.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

—Romans 12:2

Of course, we want to be liked and accepted by others and this is human nature. Nobody wants to be alone but sacrificing who we are is not the answer. In fact, someone who does not like you for the way you are will never truly accept you any other way. God wants us to be who we truly are and while there are a few things He does expect of us, He does not gauge us by the standards that a majority of the world does. Instead, He looks at the heart and what a person is really about which is more attractive than anything physical.

Do not get me wrong, there are things that we all do that we should probably change. There is no denying this. There are things about me that I need to change, not because God thinks less of me but because these things keep me from doing more and being a better person. One problem that I use to have is accepting that I needed to change certain things or, being motivated enough to change them. When I was younger, I knew I had to change things but I didn’t have enough get up to do so but we shouldn’t change these things because we think others will like us but rather, because we want to.

My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:”

—Proverbs 1:15

No, I am not an advocate that says everyone is beautiful and we are all special in our own unique ways but I do realize that God has made us all unique and we are beautiful in the way He created us. By no means am I saying that everyone is perfect the way they are because this is not true. None of us are perfect but we are made by a perfect God and He does have a great plan for each of us if only we will accept it and live it.

Three years ago, I weighed nearly three hundred pounds and had no motivation for life. Very few things in this life brought happiness or joy and every day, day after day, things were all the same. My passion was gone and I needed a change. The people that I trusted most, a few females and other people I held close, had shown their true colors and I found out the hard way that you cannot trust everyone that you want to. However, for me and like for anyone else, God had something more in store but I had to work on a few things.

It took a while, a few years, but God helped me change what I needed to change to make the improvements in my life. We all have a decision to make in this life whether or not we are going to stay the same person regardless if its right or not or if we are going to choose God and allow for His will to be done in our lives. Just as sin will take you further than you ever expected, God will take you further than you ever expected.

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

—Philippians 2:15