Embracing & Accepting

We live in a hurting world. We face problems in our families, churches and the society we live in. Paul in his letter to Ephesians has framed a set of values for husbands/wives, parents/children, masters/slaves in Ephesians chapters 5 and 6. They look divine and good. But how do we embrace and accept someone who keeps hurting? While I was listening to a sermon yesterday in a CSI church, God inspired me to write these words from the Biblical portions shared from the pulpit. I have added few more scriptural aspects to the topic dealt in the church.

Husband/Wife

The story of Hosea and his wife Gomer is a model of extreme acceptance, which stretches beyond the limits of forgiveness, one can simulate in a married life. The purpose of this prophet’s life was that God wanted him to model his unconditional love and acceptance to the wayward Israel. The couple had three children, out of which the third one was not of Hosea! Gomer was repeatedly unfaithful to Hosea, in spite of her husband wooing and forgiving her every time. Finally it went to the stage that Gomer was sold as a prostitute. We can imagine how difficult the life of Hosea could have been as a man who was in the ministry of prophecy to be in the context of such a family! The climax of the story was that Hosea bought his wife for a price and redeemed her and ensured her love, all over again. Hosea is an outstanding example of spousal love following the footsteps of Christ’s acceptance and embracing us in spite of our repeated betrayals in our lives in a daily basis. I suggest you to read the book of Hosea in the Bible to know more about this Biblical hero and God’s love!

Parents/Children

The prime example of a parent whose love was beyond expectancy is that of the father of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). His love for the wayward son compared to the older son who was always with him could have been sort of a surprise in that context and in any context, today. A child is always a child to a parent. It is painful to see parents who find it difficult to accept prodigal children who have strayed out because of sin and unacceptable marriage norms. Can parents today be like that father who in essence was reflecting God’s love to his wayward children? Was any sin not acceptable, and could be labelled as unforgiving by our Lord? He bore all our sins and iniquities. Such an embracing love is what is expected from parents who have branded their children and their families as wayward.

Masters/Slaves

Philemon was that master with the mind of Christ who forgave his slave who stole money and ran away from him. But for the timely interference of Apostle Paul in the life of the thief Onesimus, who not only gave him gospel but wrote a recommendation letter back to the master to accept him. Paul went to the extreme of paying the stolen money to the master. But thankfully Philemon accepted Onesimus. I praise God for these men, Paul and Philemon who were involved in the process of accepting a sinner who later, history says, became the Bishop in Ephesus (from the book of Philemon in the New Testament).

Christ/Church

The Bible gives evidence of the disciples who showed signs of no- acceptance to children, women, and gentiles during their apprenticeship training with Jesus. They drove the children away (Matthew 19:13-15). They wanted Jesus to send the Syro-Phoenician woman away without encountering. They said, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” Jesus wanted them to unlearn their attitudes towards these potential partners of the Kingdom of God. The incident however ends up with an applause from Christ, praising her as a woman of faith (Matthew 15:21-28).  But the struggle in not accepting people whom God loves is continuing over centuries. Apostle Peter found it difficult to accept gentiles, for which he needed repeated admonitions through visions from God (Acts 10:9-16). Paul had to confront Peter for his hypocritical attitude (Galatians 2:11-13). 

Are we winners in accepting people from all strata of life into our families, our churches, our work places? Or, are we struggling and losing people? Jesus’ love surpasses all barriers. He died for the sins of all. By His resurrection, he assures victory for all over sin. He accepts all who come to Him and includes them as inheritors of His kingdom. As followers of Christ, we should have the same attitude that He had (Philippians 2:5). The clarion call now is to embrace a life of acceptance to win all people for Christ.