ACCEPTANCE, APPROVAL, FAVOR
In the early 2000s, there was a societal push for more TOLERANCE as pertains to things once considered taboo or “outside the norm” within our culture and society. A decade later, the call for TOLERANCE was raised to a different level. No longer was TOLERANCE considered good enough … ACCEPTANCE was requested. I get it … I’d much rather be ACCEPTED than just TOLERATED. Now, in today’s culture, the call for ACCEPTANCE has been overridden by a call for APPROVAL. So, things that were once NOT TOLERATED in society have gone from being TOLERATED, to ACCEPTED, to APPROVED within society … all within three decades. I’m not going where you think I’m going with this … so don’t get uptight!

Believe it or not, in God’s kingdom there are similar levels to what I’ve mentioned above. You see, the vilest of us sinners, estranged from God and the kingdom of Heaven can find ACCEPTANCE from God by coming into His family through the saving grace of Jesus. Ephesians 1:6 says that “He made us ACCEPTED in the Beloved.” It wasn’t based on anything we did, but on what Christ did for us. We can find ACCEPTANCE in God’s Family through Christ’s redemptive work on the cross.

But, there is another level that people seek beyond ACCEPTANCE, and that is APPROVAL. However, APPROVAL in God’s kingdom requires something that ACCEPTANCE did not. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to show thyself APPROVED unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” So, APPROVAL is not automatic … it requires attention given to God’s word.

Unlike the levels of societal acceptance mentioned above, there is still another level of acceptance in God’s kingdom, and it’s called FAVOR. FAVOR is when God shines a light on all that you do and grants you special blessings and success. It’s funny to me that in society everyone wants to be APPROVED but very few expect to receive special FAVOR. Yet, God will FAVOR a person who is completely devoted to Him. It was FAVOR that Noah received from God when all the world was flooded but he was rescued … “But Noah found FAVOR in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). It was because of God’s FAVOR that Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus … “Hail, thou art highly FAVORED, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:28). Proverbs 8:35 tells us that the one who seeks wisdom “obtains FAVOR from the Lord.” So, those who follow the pathway of foolishness will not enjoy God’s FAVOR.

The highest level of acceptance you’ll ever receive from man is APPROVAL. I suppose it’s a worthy endeavor to seek it, but most often the best you will receive is TOLERANCE. But, in God’s kingdom, there is a level of acceptance and blessing that’s available beyond simple APPROVAL … it’s called FAVOR … and very few seek it, because it requires a life of devotion and commitment that few are willing to live.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY:
“Lord, I thank you for ACCEPTING me into Your family. I know it wasn’t because of anything I did but because of what Jesus did that You ACCEPTED me. I’m content in knowing I’m ACCEPTED by You, but I also long for Your APPROVAL. Help me to be a diligent student of Your Word … a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. And, in my pursuit of Your APPROVAL I also seek Your FAVOR. I know I’ve experienced it sporadically in my life, but I desire it more and more. Nothing else matters. The approval and acceptance of man means so very little to me. To have Your ACCEPTANCE, APPROVAL AND FAVOR means everything to me! I love you Lord!”