Accepted and Beloved

Week 8  Hope and Certainty

Day 54

Accepted and Beloved

You are beloved. Walk in the Lord with confidence and do not hide the beauty He has created in you. Let your light shine without fear of rejection, because it is God’s light in you that draws others to Him. 

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T

he acceptance of other human beings is nice to have, but it is not necessary. When we walk with the Lord, we may at times be puzzled and hurt by the responses of others. This is because the uninhibited display of our God-given beauty can make them feel that their own self-diagnosed inadequacies are more apparent by comparison, although this is not so. When we walk in the light, we make those around us more beautiful, not less, as we see them as they are (this is what frightens them so) but love them with Christ’s love.

We only muddy the waters when we try to be inoffensive by hiding our God-given knowledge and wisdom. Some will be attracted to the light within us, some will be repelled; but that is not our concern. Our job is to walk steadily with the Lord and let our light shine before others unimpeded by false humility or fear of rejection. Fear of exposure is a stage in the progression of repentance of sin, and people at this stage may act out rejection as they turn away from the frightening light of God’s love. Knowledge and acceptance of our God-given beauty enables us to see negative responses as what they are, and instead of retreating into the self-centeredness of personal hurt, we can respond with compassion and prayer. 

Through all our failures and sins, Jesus keeps gazing steadfastly at us, loving us. He doesn't stop giving us His good gifts. He doesn't stop taking action on our part because we are not yet wholly in the right or righteous. He allows us to participate in His righteousness because we have believed in Him and He has loved us. Being loved like this is the best possible motivation to allow His perfecting power to have its way in us so that we let His light shine through us to others, unafraid. We who have tasted the blessing of being loved by God have been released from the exhaustion of striving to be good enough in our own strength. A love like this needs to be shared. May the Lord teach us to walk in confidence in the beauty we have been given, so that we reveal Him to others without fear or regret. It is His light in us that draws others to Him.  

Pray: Lord, please grant me the humility to understand that the beauty You see in me is a gift from You. Let me see myself through Your eyes so that I believe that I am beautiful and have something precious and unique to share. Teach me to walk in confidence in the gifts You have given me, and help me to reveal You in me to others without fear.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. 

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Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:15-16