You Are Accepted

I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. Romans 7:19-20 (MSG)

Do you ever feel like you can’t measure up? You have good intentions, but something happens on the road between intentions and reality. If so, you aren’t alone. Even the Apostle Paul felt the same way, frustrated because his actions didn’t match up with his intentions.

But Paul discovered the key to living a life of freedom. He understood that God doesn’t demand perfection. In Romans 7:24–25 (MSG), Paul says, “Is there no one who can do anything for me? ...The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right….”

Paul learned that it was impossible for him to earn God’s acceptance. People have been trying for thousands of years without success. That’s why God sent Jesus to make things right. He knew that we were incapable of perfection on our own, so Jesus did what we could never achieve—He made it possible for us to have a right relationship with God.

When you accept that fact, you realize that you’re accepted unconditionally without condemnation. Then, when you read God’s Word, you realize it wasn’t written to show you all that’s wrong with you…but all that’s right, through Jesus.

God loves you completely, passionately and eternally, no matter how you choose to live your life. The Bible is the greatest love letter ever written. When you read it, don’t focus on your flaws.Focus on God—and you’ll become more like Him every day.