Day 45 - Welcome Others
Emily Green
“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” - Romans 15:5-7 ESV
Yesterday, we discussed what it meant to show God’s love (agapaō) to others. The first way we can show God’s love to people is to welcome them.
In the original Greek language, “welcome” is another word for “accept.” To welcome people is to accept them for who they are. There is a difference between approval and acceptance. Approval says, “I validate what you do.” Acceptance says, “I love who you are.” Let me mention here that it is possible to love at a distance. As a believer, you don’t have to like everyone, but you do have to love them (Matthew 22:39). Healthy boundaries are good. You don’t have to welcome everyone into your home, but you can still love them from a distance.
Even when you may not agree with people or approve of their beliefs or lifestyles, it is still possible to love them with God’s everlasting love! After all, God accepted us and welcomed us (Romans 15:7), so we can extend this acceptance to others!
Next Steps
- Think about it: In the past, have I turned people away because I didn’t approve of their lifestyle or beliefs?
Think about it: How can I be more accepting of people?
Action Step: One way to welcome and accept people is by leading a Click. Pray about leading a Click next semester. The spring Click semester begins April 16 and lasts eight weeks.