Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. — Romans 15:7

Now that’s a tall order!!! Accept others with all the baggage they carry? Accept those high maintenance, outcasts of society, and the egotistical, arrogant, selfish, prideful, disobedient, unfaithful? . . . well enough talking about me. I’m a sinner. I admit it. But with Jesus becoming my life He is transforming me into a godly person ready for heaven.

Do we reach out to people, just like us, to introduce them to Jesus? Do we accept THAT kind of person when they walk through the doors of our churches or do we shy away and ignore and shun them? Reminds me of a testimony:

A number of years ago a young woman visited the church I was attending. She filled out an attendance card so she made the list for visitation Monday.

An older couple (Deacon and wife) and I were the ones blessed to visit her that Monday. We arrived at her trailer and she seemed genuinely happy to see us and invited us in. In this tiny trailer we stepped over and around toys, dirty clothes, a mattress in the middle of the floor with wadded up sheets and sat on a dilapidated sunk down low, filthy, well worn couch. What would your reaction be and what expression would she have seen on your face?

To the glory of God I marched in there with a smile on my face, thanked her for visiting our church, gave her information and shared the gospel. She was no different than me when it came to my need for Christ.

People need the Lord. Will we let their garbage stop us from accepting them, sharing the gospel and helping them grow in Christ? Jesus accepted our garbage all the way to the cross. What are you willing to do for others?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon