*big sigh* Okay. I'm writing. For me. For an audience of one.
For the last two to three years I have been on a 'get healthy' journey. This has included my eating, exercising, and devotional life. Or physical, emotional, and spiritual. Whatever. It's been about getting me whole and healthy. And trim. And hot. Comfortable in my own skin.
A few weeks ago I started going through the book Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeust with some gals around town. Super encouraging for sure. This week for homework we got into chapter. Oh my! This chapter spoke to my longing heart. It encouraged me, and restored my vision. Like many good God books, it included a list of the ways he loves us. Feeling the love, and longing for more, I decided to dig a little deeper. That's really how I finally ended up here. I wasn't going to be satisfied with just a trite little phrase. Seeing with my own eyes what the Bible truly said was going to encourage me more. Or so I believed...
Nancy, the accepted child of God. Of course the verse reference was tagged behind it, (I Corinthians 1:2). Not enough for this Jesus girl! No way. I got my holy spirit pants on and looked it up in my Bible. And this is what I get, 'To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.'
Hmmm... nice verse. It really is. It could, or does speak to me. But seriously, 'accepted?' I don't see the connection. I see 'sanctified,' or set apart for him. I even see 'unified,' through reference of the 'saints together,' be it far or wide. I don't see the author speaking to individuals, but to the church as a whole. God knows! I need to see his heart of love and acceptance of the church as a whole!
Obviously, I am a tad bit irritated at this use of scripture. It's bologna sandwiches in my book for how it's used. But I'm not to be deterred. Maybe another version? ... No. I don't get her decision for the use of this verse. I think it's cheating. Yet, I will learn from it. I will accept it as a choice morsel for me to consume. The church is his people. Sanctified and holy, those who call on the name of Jesus as Lord. He loves those people. Therefore, they are accepted.
Side note: Romans 15:7 seems way more appropriate! 'Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.' Acceptance appears to be related to obedience to holiness, and belief in Jesus Christ.
And... BAM! Here it is! I 'accidentally?' ended up in Romans 12, thinking I was in 15. Now to study.
