I Am Accepted

LIFE SKILLS #4: UNDERSTANDING I AM ACCEPTED "…We have the free gift of being accepted by God, even though we are guilty of many sins." Romans 5:16 (NLT) Authorities (like parents, teachers, and bosses) hold you accountable. If you do what they tell you, they might give you affirmation like “good job”! If you continue to perform well, they may give you acceptance. But if you don’t do what they say and don’t perform to their standards, they often withhold affirmation and acceptance. This is a way of trying to control you (as illustrated by the downward arrow). It’s performance-based acceptance. Being controlled will cause you to feel rejected, which often leads to rebellion or people pleasing. Because of negative experiences you’ve had with an earthly authority, you may have a wrong view of God. God’s way of exercising His authority is totally different than the world’s way (as illustrated by the arrow pointing up instead of down on the diagram). God’s way of relating to us flows from His love. You have His acceptance because of Christ’s death on the cross, not your behavior. He gives you affirmation by telling you how much He loves you. Then He trains you, disciplines you, and holds you accountable for your behavior, because He wants the best for you. This leads to joyful obedience instead of rebellion. • Have you believed that God’s acceptance of you is based on your behavior? • Do you see God’s discipline as loving? Why or why not? • If your view of God’s authority has been wrong, share that with God. Ask Him to give you a proper perspective. • If you are a person in charge of others, which side of the diagram illustrates how you treat those under your authority? Visit our website for more great Life Skills: www.VCLi.org

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