Accepted in the Beloved!

God loves each of us as if there was only one of us.  Saint Augustine

In today’s culture, many young girls and young women grow up with negative beliefs about themselves that are carried over into adulthood. They are vulnerable to defining themselves in comparison to others. They vie for attention by acting and dressing inappropriately. The effects of social media, reality television and celebrity culture, tend to reinforce gender stereotypes.

They try to be good enough in a world that says, “you’re not good enough,” They long for unconditional love, acceptance and inclusion which shapes the way they define themselves, there attractiveness to others, and what they feel that are capable of becoming.

Sadly we live in a world that’s full of “you’re not.” You are not valuable: You are not pretty enough: You are not smart enough for this job: You are not competent enough to be a leader.  And the list goes on. Today, God is saying “You are everything I’ve created to you be!”

The Book to the Ephesians is filled with precious jewels that encourages us to know our identity in Christ.  Ephesians 1:6 says, “he hath made us accepted in the beloved” to the praise and glory of His grace. The one word that stands out “accepted.”

Even today, many women struggle with trusting the truth that we’re acceptable to and accepted by God. The truth is you are God’s beloved not because of what you do or how you look. It’s because God the Father says so. When you truly embraced your identity in Christ you realize that acceptance is what you already have.

When you accepted Christ, God accepted you. You may sometimes feel rejected, but how you feel is not who you are! He is no respecter of persons and He doesn’t show favoritism. (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11) We are all accepted in the beloved and He shows no partiality, “but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” (Acts 10:35)

I am a mother of two sons with vastly differently personalities, yet I love them both distinctively and not just the same. To love them just the same implies that they are indistinguishable; equal in size, shape, value or importance. That’s not true.   Just as we love our children who are different from one another, God love each one of His children uniquely. Each one of us has personal value to Him.

We need to embrace and believe this. God loves us with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) The Bible says, “to as many as receive Him, He gives the power to be sons and daughters of God.” (John 1:12)

Blessings!