Insights On Self-Acceptance (part 3)

Written by: Bill Gothard

In order to accept the unchangeable features in ourselves which God has made, we must see the insights of a much bigger picture. You see, success in life is not measured by what we are or what we have done, but rather by what we are and what we have done compared to what we could have been and could have done.

A. God’s basic purpose in creating us is that we have fellowship with Him through Jesus Christ, and that we experience the full potential of Christ working in and through these bodies of ours.

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). “…I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8).

B. Satan is aware of the potential which God has put within our lives, and he desires to totally destroy it or at least partially diminish its potential.

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth…If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and ready for the master’s use……Flee also youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:20-22).

C. Satan’s initial method of operation is to get us to believe that God has cheated or will cheat us out of that which we should rightfully have.

“And the serpent said……God doth know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4,5). “Beware lest any man spoil you…for in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in
Him…” (Colossians 2:8-10).

D. Before we were born, God prescribed our unchangeable features in accordance with His plans for our lives.

“Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about…thou hast made me as the clay…” (Job 10:8,9 & repeated in Psalm 119:73). “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:16). “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!…Shall the clay say to him that fashioned it, What makest thou?” (Isaiah 45:9)

E. God isn’t finished making us.

“We are (present continuous action) His workmanship…” (Ephesians 2:10). “The Lord will perfect that which concerned me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands” (Psalm 138:8).

F. There is no such thing as a “universal ideal” in the outward appearance.

“…man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). “…he (Jesus) hath no form nor comeliness (attractiveness); and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2).

G. There is no universal ideal on inward character qualities. We must reproduce the character of
Jesus Christ in us by the power of God’s Spirit and God’s grace.

“…to be conformed to the image of His Son (Jesus Christ)” (Romans 8:29). “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). “For it pleased the Father that in Him (Christ) should all fullness dwell” (Colossians 2:9). “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22,23).

H. Our happiness is not dependent on our outward beauty but on our ability to experience the character of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied when I awake, with they likeness” (Psalm 17:15). “Blessed (how happy) are the poor in spirit…they that mourn…the meek…they which hunger and thirst after righteousness…the merciful…the pure in heart…the peacemakers…the persecuted” (Matthew 5:3-12).

I. If necessary, God sacrifices outward beauty to develop inward qualities, since our happiness is based on having these qualities.

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:10). “Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16,17). “…Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor” (Romans 9:20,21).

J. Our fulfillment in life comes by being a unique message on how to develop the inward qualities of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“But ye are a chosen generation…that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). “Ye are our epistle…known and read of all men” (2 Corinthians 3:2). “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth” (Proverbs 15:23).

K. Differences in appearance, abilities, parentage and social heritage are God’s special frames to highlight and amplify His unique message through us.

“…My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me…for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9,10). “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty…That no flesh should glory in his presence…That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:27,29,31).

L. God’s reputation is at stake in what we do with our appearance, abilities, parentage, and social heritage.

“And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say” (Exodus 4:11,12).

We’ll continue this series in my next blog…