Rom 5:11…. “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”  (NIV)

     A friend told me about  the timecard punch machine at her place of employment.    Each time she inserts her timecard, it reads “accepted.”     One particular day she was standing there punching her card and her supervisor commented about the joy of being “accepted.”     She told him that she liked to hang out there at the punch machine, because it was one time during the day that she feels accepted.  

      Her story created a moment of  thanksgiving in our conversation, gratitude that in Christ Jesus we are indeed accepted by our Heavenly Father……and not just when we’re hanging out at an electronic acceptance machine.    Scripture is full of messages that declare acceptance through faith in our Lord.    That’s where I want to punch in today………..

Romans 15:7-8……. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”   (NIV)

John 1:12-13…. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”  (NIV)

In Christ, I am acceptable to God……..Romans 5:1
In Christ, I am a child of God…..John 1:12
I am Jesus’ chosen friend…….John 15:15
I have been purchased with a price and I belong to God…….1 Cor. 6:19-20
I am a part of His family……….1 Cor. 12:27
I have been adopted as God’s child……Eph. 1:5
I am complete in Christ…..Col. 2:10