Never Been Unloved

In first grade, I was in a play that honored the founding fathers and folk heroes of our country. The play ended with all of us singing the song, "God Bless the USA". I remember as we tried out for our parts (we would all get a part, but not all the parts were desired) As we were singing I can remember one of my classmates turning to me and saying. "You can't sing, why don't you just shut up." That was the first time I remember being judged for my ability to perform. It shut me down. I remember at that moment becoming more concerned about my ability to do things than I was about whether or not i actually did them. After that moment I would hesitate when asked to sing or do anything else in public.
When I was in the third grade we were in a play about a rainbow colored elephant. I was a hunter and my friend brandon Carter played the elephant. It was a Musical as well. I didn't sing, but I did carry a gun. My part was to hunt down and kill the animals so they were always in hiding. The end of that play found the elephant being accepted by his jungle companions in spite of his weird coloration. He chased off the hunters so everyone appreciated him.
I found myself thinking that if I could do something like that, then I would be accepted. Being accepted is so important. We all need to be liked just the way we are.
I spent some time this morning thinking about the love of God. Over the last week spent in Colorado I was honored to be reintroduced to his love in new ways. Very refreshing. One of the things we focused on was the baptism of Christ and that, as billy mentioned Sunday, everything Christ did in his life after that moment was planted in the truth that God was pleased with him. Christ worked out of acceptance.
How often have we worked out of rejection? How often have our actions been influenced by a fear of rejection or a desire for acceptance. We want to appear funny or exciting or intelligent so we act differently than we really are. We feel unacceptable, unloved, and unappreciated. We spend emotion, money, and time so that we can be what we think others want us to be.
When Peter denied Christ he ran away crying. He no longer felt accepted by Christ. Did Christ cease to accept him? Absolutely not. But the way Peter saw himself after that moment crippled him in the kingdom. It is not until Christ reinstates Peter that his fires are renewed.
How different would your life be if you'd lived under the knowledge of that acceptance? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.