You Don’t Have to Earn God’s Acceptance - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - June 1, 2021
2021Jun 01
You Don’t Have to Earn God’s Acceptance By Rick Warren
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
Many of us spend our entire lives trying to earn acceptance. We want to earn it from our parents, peers, and partners—people we respect, and even people we envy. The desire to be accepted drives us to do all kinds of things. It can influence the kinds of clothes we wear, cars we drive, houses we buy, and careers we choose.
Sometimes people do crazy things to be accepted. A teen who badly wants to fit in might take a risky dare; their desire to be accepted overrules their desire for safety. If you’ve ever played baseball as a kid and teams were chosen, remember how great it felt to be picked by the best player? Remember how bad you felt when you were among the last few chosen?
We love the feeling of being accepted.
Did you know that God has chosen you? The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen people” (NIV). That should raise your self-esteem! Christ has accepted you—not because you tried hard or because you particularly deserve it. God simply says, “I chose you.”
When you’re part of God’s family, that will never change. No matter what, God will always accept you.
Even if you’ve experienced rejection in your own family, that’s not the way God’s family works. The Bible promises, “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will take care of me” (Psalm 27:10 GW).
You may have accepted Jesus into your life—but have you realized that Christ has accepted you? You don’t have to earn it; you don’t have to prove yourself. You’re accepted by Christ today, tomorrow, and always. No matter what.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Build a Firm Foundation of Prayer in the Next Generation!
“Perhaps the most important role you can play in the life of a child is teaching them to trust God through prayer. It’s the key to living with hope.” —Pastor Rick
That’s why it’s so important to strengthen the hope of kids by introducing them to Jesus’ model for prayer at an early age. And we’re excited to help you do that with Pastor Rick’s children’s book, The Lord’s Prayer: Words of Hope and Happiness.
Filled with thoughtful insights from Pastor Rick as well as stunning illustrations from award-winning artist, Richard Jesse Watson, this book brings the poetic scripture from the King James Version alive for readers young and old. It’s sure to become a meaningful bedtime ritual, a treasured memory, and by God’s grace, a legacy that bears good fruit for generations to come.
This book is a perfect way to share the beauty and richness of The Lord’s Prayer with the children the Lord has placed in your life. And it’s our thanks for your gift below to help Daily Hope take the Good News to more people everywhere. So please request a copy for yourself or a friend today, and thanks for your generosity!
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