Embracing God's Love: The Journey of Acceptance

 

Summary

In this Advent season, we are reminded of the radical acceptance that God offers through Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus to show us that we are dearly loved and highly favored, and for those in Christ, there is no condemnation. Our response to this divine love should be one of open-heartedness and willingness to say "yes" to God, echoing His promises with our own "amen." As we journey through life, we often encounter situations, emotions, or relationships that are difficult to accept. Today, I invite you to reflect on these areas and consider how you can move up the scale of acceptance.

This scale, inspired by Rick Blackman, ranges from condemnation to embrace. At the lowest level, we reject or condemn a situation or emotion. As we move up, we resist, tolerate, accept, and finally, embrace. Mary, the mother of Jesus, exemplifies this journey in the first chapter of Luke. Initially troubled by the angel Gabriel's message, she moves from resistance to acceptance, ultimately embracing her role as the mother of the Messiah with joy and praise.

Acceptance does not mean passivity. It involves recognizing our reality and asking God for help to cope and deal with it. Like Mary, we can move from toleration to acceptance, welcoming our circumstances into our lives. This journey is not about being passive in the face of adversity but about actively engaging with our reality and seeking God's guidance.

As we prepare for Christmas, consider where you are on this scale of acceptance. Whether it's a challenging relationship, a difficult emotion, or a trying circumstance, ask God to help you move up one level. Embrace the reality of your life, knowing that God is with you, and let your soul magnify the Lord.

Key Takeaways:

1. Radical Acceptance in Christ: God sent Jesus to demonstrate His unconditional love and acceptance. For those in Christ, there is no condemnation, and we are called to respond with open hearts and a willingness to say "yes" to God's promises. [00:23]

2. The Scale of Acceptance: Acceptance is a journey that moves from condemnation to embrace. By reflecting on our lives, we can identify areas where we struggle to accept reality and work towards embracing them with God's help. [01:30]

3. Mary's Journey of Acceptance: Mary's response to the angel Gabriel's message illustrates the journey from resistance to embrace. Her story encourages us to move from initial reluctance to wholehearted acceptance of God's calling. [03:04]

4. Acceptance vs. Passivity: Acceptance is not passive resignation. It involves recognizing our reality and actively seeking God's guidance to cope and deal with it. We can be creative and insistent in our approach while remaining connected to God. [11:13]

5. Embracing Our Reality: As we prepare for Christmas, we are invited to embrace our circumstances, knowing that God is with us. By moving up the scale of acceptance, we can magnify the Lord and rejoice in His presence in our lives. [11:27]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:23] - Radical Acceptance
- [00:58] - The Challenge of Saying Yes
- [01:30] - The Scale of Acceptance
- [02:51] - Mary's Journey
- [03:57] - The Calling of God
- [04:49] - A New Kind of Calling
- [05:15] - Mary's Response
- [06:07] - The Magnificat
- [06:50] - Reflecting on Acceptance
- [07:38] - Moving Away from Condemnation
- [08:46] - The Metaphor of Quicksand
- [10:08] - Acceptance vs. Passivity
- [11:27] - Embracing Our Reality
- [11:54] - Closing and Community Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Radical Acceptance in Advent

Bible Reading:
1. Luke 1:26-38 - The Annunciation to Mary
2. Romans 8:1 - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
3. 2 Corinthians 1:20 - "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God."

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Observation Questions:

1. In Luke 1:26-38, how does Mary initially respond to the angel Gabriel's message, and what does this reveal about her state of mind? [03:17]

2. According to Romans 8:1, what is the significance of being "in Christ" in terms of condemnation? How does this relate to the concept of radical acceptance? [00:34]

3. What does 2 Corinthians 1:20 suggest about the nature of God's promises and our response to them? How is this reflected in the sermon? [00:47]

4. How does the sermon describe the "scale of acceptance," and what are the different levels mentioned? [01:30]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Mary's journey from resistance to embrace in Luke 1:26-38 serve as a model for our own journey of acceptance? What can we learn from her example? [03:04]

2. In what ways does the absence of condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1) empower believers to live with open hearts and say "yes" to God's promises? [00:34]

3. How does the sermon suggest we can move from toleration to acceptance in difficult situations, and what role does God's guidance play in this process? [10:08]

4. What does the sermon imply about the difference between acceptance and passivity, and how can this understanding impact our approach to challenging circumstances? [11:13]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a current situation or relationship in your life where you struggle with acceptance. What is one step you can take this week to move up the scale of acceptance? [06:50]

2. How can you practice saying "yes" to God's promises in your daily life, especially in areas where you feel resistance or reluctance? [00:47]

3. Consider a time when you felt condemned or judged. How can the truth of Romans 8:1 help you to live more freely and confidently in Christ? [00:34]

4. Identify an emotion or circumstance you have been resisting. What practical steps can you take to welcome it into your life with God's help, as Mary did? [10:08]

5. How can you actively engage with your reality, seeking God's guidance, rather than passively accepting difficult situations? What might this look like in a specific area of your life? [11:13]

6. As you prepare for Christmas, what is one way you can embrace your current circumstances, knowing that God is with you? How can this change your perspective and actions? [11:27]

7. Think of a promise from God that you find hard to believe or accept. What is one practical way you can remind yourself of this promise and respond with an "amen" this week? [00:47]

Devotional

Day 1: Radical Acceptance in Christ
God's radical acceptance through Jesus Christ is a profound demonstration of His unconditional love. In Christ, believers are assured that there is no condemnation, and they are invited to respond with open hearts and a willingness to affirm God's promises. This acceptance is not just a passive acknowledgment but an active engagement with God's love, calling us to say "yes" to His will and purpose in our lives. As we reflect on this truth, we are encouraged to embrace the reality of being dearly loved and highly favored by God. [00:23]

Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV): "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively say "yes" to God's promises in your life today, acknowledging His radical acceptance of you?


Day 2: The Scale of Acceptance
The journey of acceptance is a transformative process that moves from condemnation to embrace. This scale, inspired by Rick Blackman, encourages individuals to reflect on areas of their lives where they struggle to accept reality. By identifying these areas, believers can work towards embracing them with God's help, moving from rejection to resistance, tolerance, acceptance, and finally, embrace. This journey is not about passivity but about actively engaging with our circumstances and seeking God's guidance to navigate them. [01:30]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: Identify a specific situation or emotion you are currently resisting. How can you invite God to help you move one step up the scale of acceptance today?


Day 3: Mary's Journey of Acceptance
Mary's response to the angel Gabriel's message is a powerful illustration of moving from resistance to embrace. Initially troubled by the message, Mary transitions from reluctance to wholehearted acceptance of her role as the mother of the Messiah. Her journey encourages believers to move beyond initial hesitations and embrace God's calling with joy and praise. This story serves as a reminder that acceptance is a journey that requires faith and trust in God's plan. [03:04]

Luke 1:38 (ESV): "And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt reluctant to accept a calling or task. How can Mary's example inspire you to embrace God's plan with joy and trust?


Day 4: Acceptance vs. Passivity
Acceptance is not synonymous with passivity. It involves recognizing our reality and actively seeking God's guidance to cope and deal with it. This approach encourages believers to be creative and insistent in their engagement with life's challenges while remaining connected to God. Acceptance is about acknowledging the truth of our circumstances and inviting God to help us navigate them with wisdom and strength. [11:13]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Reflection: Consider a challenge you are currently facing. How can you actively seek God's guidance and strength to engage with this challenge rather than passively resigning to it?


Day 5: Embracing Our Reality
As we prepare for Christmas, believers are invited to embrace their circumstances, knowing that God is with them. By moving up the scale of acceptance, individuals can magnify the Lord and rejoice in His presence in their lives. This season is an opportunity to reflect on the reality of our lives and to invite God to help us embrace it with faith and gratitude. Embracing our reality is about acknowledging God's presence and allowing His love to transform our perspective. [11:27]

Psalm 46:1-2 (ESV): "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea."

Reflection: As you prepare for Christmas, what is one area of your life you need to embrace more fully? How can you invite God's presence into this area to transform your perspective?

Quotes

God sent Jesus to show us that we are dearly loved you and I are highly favored, God accepts us for those who are in Christ there is no condemnation and then at the same time we are to live with an open heart with a spirit of willingness, of surrender to God of saying yes no matter how many promises God has made they are all yes in Jesus Christ and we are to say yes amen back to God. [00:27:27]

I want you to start right now by thinking about some area in your life where it's hard to say yes some area where it's difficult for you to offer wholehearted acceptance to reality to God might be another person might be an emotion that you're pushing back on might be a condition or experience part of your life where you just don't want to be here. [00:56:71]

You might think about it this way this is a highly technically created chart hopefully you can read this and from the bottom up at the lowest level is when I just simply condem or utterly reject this person this situation this emotion this part of myself and then as I move up the scale of acceptance it goes next to resist and here I'm no longer trying to deny it but I don't want it and my emotional response against it leaks out quite a bit. [00:87:92]

Interestingly enough there's a way of reading the story of Mary's journey where she actually walks through all five of these levels of acceptance initially as we talked about when we kicked off this journey the angel Gabriel comes to Mary and has these words greetings you who are highly favored the lord is with you but initially even though those words look so good to us they are not received positively by Mary and so we're told that she is greatly troubled. [00:167:20]

What they were generally told that a calling was got to be with them and give them the strength to bear what they would need to bear that they didn't want to bear and Mary understands what that's what's happening what's interesting now with the coming of Jesus and the opening of the kingdom of God life with God to all human beings radically in him the radical acceptance God is going to offer human beings now as far as I know for the first time in sacred scripture this calling is given to a woman not a man a young girl. [00:267:84]

Mary goes on to toleration I am the lord servant may it be to me according to your word but she doesn't stop there immediately goes on to say at that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea where she greeted her relative Elizabeth who knew this story and now Mary has moved to a positive acceptance of what is happening this is sometimes called willingness of the feet. [00:323:36]

My soul magnifies glorifies praises the lord my spirit rejoices in God my savior for he has been mindful we'll talk about mindfulness too of the humble state of a service now she is wholeheartedly embracing the quality that God has on her life to be the one through whom the messiah would enter into the life of Israel so what I want to invite you to do today as we think about advent and this wonderful promise now the lord is with you you're accepted by God. [00:378:96]

I remember many years ago talking to a good friend of mine about a parent who um was so distraught by their child that uh they really staked their well-being on their child's choices my friend said about his dad because this one child didn't do and live the way that the dad wanted him to he never recovered and I realized at that time different circumstances I was in danger of that same response. [00:425:91]

I remember loose means writing about a parent one time who was disappointed in his daughter she was often depressed and he said to lou I realize what I need to do is I need to forgive my daughter and he said no you forgive someone when they have done something to wound you that is badly motivated what you need to do is accept your daughter you need to realize that you got to give up the child that you dreamed of having and recognize this is the child that you actually have. [00:488:00]

If you're normally in a hole someplace you try to resist it and you try to struggle to make your way out but if you're in quicksand that's not a good idea if you're in quicksand then you're on two feet and you take the weight off one foot to struggle to get it up all of your weight doubles now on the other foot and because there is nothing solid underneath you you will sink yourself when it comes to quicksand if you want to get out of the mud you got to get into the mud you got to get with the mud. [00:537:76]

If I willfully struggle to say I don't want to be here I don't want this emotion I want to make this person change almost always makes it worse but instead if I'm able to say I am the lord servant may it be to me that I'm able to move now from toleration to acceptance where I actually positively welcome this circumstance this emotion into my life now we'll talk about what that's not that doesn't mean that you be passive. [00:590:95]

Acceptance is not the same thing as passivity it doesn't mean if somebody is abusing me I allow them to continue to go do this it means I recognize this is my reality and I ask God God will you help me to deal and cope with it and then that moves me ultimately to embrace and that magnificent my soul magnifies the lord I rejoice because God is with me so today where are you with that relationship in that circumstance that emotion that depression that anxiety where are you on that scale of acceptance. [00:667:20]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?