Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
The Touch of Acceptance
Rev. Abraham Kuruvilla
Princeton
Theological Seminary
7 Welcome one another,
therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Chrysostom Thirumeni’s 90th birthday, marked a new era in Christian witnessing. The onset of the ‘House For Houseless’ project, was an example of love. But it was with a difference. It was for everyone, not just for Marthomites, or other Christian denominations, but also for people of other faith. The word spread like a fire, and people from all walks of life were touched by the love of Jesus, through, the Great man, Mar Chrysostom. It was the vision of the visionary. Love laid down for everyone, just like Christ’s love. It was a touch of acceptance.
What is acceptance? Acceptance includes seeing other people as themselves; it also involves getting rid of all our prejudice mindset and lastly it includes entering the zone of other people’s life. That’s what happened on the Cross. Jesus saw us as ourselves and entered our frailty i.e. our zone as a human being, but never devoid of His divinity. Hence, the apostle testifies “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
Christ demonstrated this acceptance by becoming a servant (Rom 15:8). To be a servant is to be under someone, to obey them and to be accepted by them. Christ became a servant to be accepted by us. That is the lowliness of the Cross. Christ gave Himself for us as a servant. Similarly, in giving of ourselves, we manifest the essence of Jesus’ character. Our natural tendency is to consider our own interests first. But with Jesus’ help we can unlearn that habit. We can begin to think of the best interests of others.
This lent we must ask ourselves: Do we consider others’ interests more important than our own? Do we get as excited about what God is doing in and through them as we do about what He is doing in and through us? Do we long to see others grow in grace and gain recognition, though it may have been our efforts that made them successful? Can we become a servant of others? If so, such is the measurement of greatness.
Chrysostom Thirumeni’s 90th birthday, marked a new era in Christian witnessing. The onset of the ‘House For Houseless’ project, was an example of love. But it was with a difference. It was for everyone, not just for Marthomites, or other Christian denominations, but also for people of other faith. The word spread like a fire, and people from all walks of life were touched by the love of Jesus, through, the Great man, Mar Chrysostom. It was the vision of the visionary. Love laid down for everyone, just like Christ’s love. It was a touch of acceptance.
What is acceptance? Acceptance includes seeing other people as themselves; it also involves getting rid of all our prejudice mindset and lastly it includes entering the zone of other people’s life. That’s what happened on the Cross. Jesus saw us as ourselves and entered our frailty i.e. our zone as a human being, but never devoid of His divinity. Hence, the apostle testifies “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
Christ demonstrated this acceptance by becoming a servant (Rom 15:8). To be a servant is to be under someone, to obey them and to be accepted by them. Christ became a servant to be accepted by us. That is the lowliness of the Cross. Christ gave Himself for us as a servant. Similarly, in giving of ourselves, we manifest the essence of Jesus’ character. Our natural tendency is to consider our own interests first. But with Jesus’ help we can unlearn that habit. We can begin to think of the best interests of others.
This lent we must ask ourselves: Do we consider others’ interests more important than our own? Do we get as excited about what God is doing in and through them as we do about what He is doing in and through us? Do we long to see others grow in grace and gain recognition, though it may have been our efforts that made them successful? Can we become a servant of others? If so, such is the measurement of greatness.
PRAYER
Lord teach me to accept others the way you accepted, not wanting
to expect anything out of the acceptance, except giving myself the way you gave
yourself, the way of shame, of lowliness, of pain ….The way of the Cross. Amen.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
LOVE AND LOVE, TILL YOU CAN LOVE NO MORE, THEN PAUSE, AND LOVE, AS JESUS LOVES, FOR THERE IS NO, ‘NO MORE’ IN THAT LOVE.
LOVE AND LOVE, TILL YOU CAN LOVE NO MORE, THEN PAUSE, AND LOVE, AS JESUS LOVES, FOR THERE IS NO, ‘NO MORE’ IN THAT LOVE.