4 Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1:4-6

The word “accepted” in verse 6 when broken down means to be graced with grace. You know a lot of us receive acceptance when we receive a gift from someone. The gift might just be a smile. If you’ve got a really bad case of a need for acceptance, which a lot of people have, you might find out that all it takes is for some brother or sister or some important person to smile at you and you feel accepted. It is good to appreciate a smile, however, the fact that your pastor didn’t smile at you when you walked past him or her doesn’t mean you are not accepted. Some people would shrink into a corner if this happens and ten months later, they are in their pastor’s office, weeping and asking the perplexed pastor, “Pastor, what have I done to you? You don’t smile at me anymore. Ten months ago you passed by me and you didn’t smile at me.”

Friend, the ultimate cure for the need for acceptance lies in your knowing this truth. Before the foundation of the world, the Person of all persons, the most handsome and most loving one that existed before the foundation of the world, gave you the gift of all gifts. You have been accepted in the Beloved. Child of God you have been accepted and graced with grace. It’s a gift that you didn’t ask for, nor solicit for. You are graced with grace and accepted just because God chose to do so!

Confession:

Jesus Christ is the Beloved and I am accepted in Him. I am graced with grace from the most loving Being.