DAY 4: ACCEPTING ONE ANOTHER
Read Matthew 18:5-6; John 5:1-9
Children. They were the lowest class in Jesus’ day. They had no rights. They were given little attention. They were less than second class citizens. And yet Jesus valued them to the point that He warned people of severe consequences if they were mistreated and misguided.
An invalid for 38 years. Overlooked and overrun day in and day out. A man simply trying to get better. Jesus saw something more in him, and He healed him. Later Jesus would announce that “whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matt. 25:40)
Jesus accepted and valued the lowly ones of this world. And then He called us to follow Him.
That same heart is to be found as we reach across our Family of Faith. The Body of Christ should be a place where all are valued. Are you valued in the Body of Christ? Can you be yourself, warts and all? Can you bring the worst of yourself and not be rejected? Can you admit your failings and struggles and have them met with grace? Are you valued enough to be encouraged to grow?
We are all valuable to God. But perhaps more important than me being valued is me valuing others. God wants us reach across to the lowly ones, the less prominent, the “less presentable” ones (1 Cor. 12:23) and value them as Jesus would. Paul says in 1Cor. 1:27-28 that God chose the foolish and the weak, the lowly and despised things of this world to do His work. Surely, we ought to have that same attitude!
To consider:
Do you feel valued in the Family of Faith? Why or why not? Do you fear people might reject you?
How can you show value to those in our Family of Faith? Is there someone whom God has placed on your heart to show that you value them?
