“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you.” Romans 15:7 (NIV)
Everybody is looking for affirmation. Have you noticed that? People will do almost anything to get it. If you don’t believe that, just watch any reality show. Look at what people are willing to do to get on TV, just so people will applaud them.
God is an incredibly affirming and loving Father. When you affirm other people, you are showing love and representing Christ. Jesus affirmed people as he ministered, so when you affirm people, you are ministering like Jesus did. You’re showing the world a little bit more about what God is like.
One of the best ways to affirm people in everyday life is to show them acceptance. Romans 15:7 says, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you” (NIV).
The easy choice sometimes is to snub and belittle and demean people, especially when they don’t measure up to our standards. We all have a tendency to take our strengths and project them on other people and then put them down when they don’t meet our expectations. For instance, maybe you’re a very tidy person who can’t help but notice when you go to other people’s houses how messy everything is, and it makes you feel better about yourself. We tend to project our strengths on other people, forgetting that we have weaknesses in other areas.
Let me tell you a better way to feel better about yourself. Instead of putting people down, why not try lifting them up? It will give you a thrill like nothing else.
The Bible says in Romans 12:10, “Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another” (GNT).
In order to do God’s work, you have to value the God-given differences among people and the way each person is uniquely shaped. Here’s how you know when you’ve accepted someone: You stop insisting that they be just like you. You realize and rejoice in the fact that they’re different. The world would be a boring place if everyone were just like you! God has made us in all different kinds of ways so everything can get done in this world.
The goal of a family, a small group, a church family, or any community group is not to mold people into your image but to accept and affirm each other and help each other discover who God made you to be.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
Talk It Over
Why do you think we sometimes try to feel better about ourselves at the expense of other people?
What does it mean to find your worth and other people’s worth in Christ? How does it change the way you look at others?
Who can you affirm this week in your family, church, small group, or workplace? How does it make you feel when you do it?
This devotional © 2023 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
In order to do God’s work, you have to value the God-given differences among people and the way each person is uniquely shaped. Discover how to affirm people by accepting them in today’s #DailyHope devotional.
Rick Warren Bio
Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church, one of America’s largest and most influential churches. Pastor Rick is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life. His book The Purpose Driven Church was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. Pastor Rick created The PEACE Plan to address the five global giants—spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy—through the power of ordinary people in the local church. His Daily Hope broadcast and daily devotionals are offered around the world. You can listen to the broadcast or sign up for the free devotionals at PastorRick.com.
Tags
40 Days of Community – 2023, Community, Encouragement, Knowing God, Choices, Love, God’s Family, Purpose, Romans 15, Romans 12
Broadcast Series: 40 Days of Community – 2023
Sermon Series: 40 Days of Community
Sermon: 016204_How We Help Each Other Grow
