Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

September 23– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“Accepted in the Beloved [Jesus Christ].” 

—Ephesians 1:6

What a state of privilege! To be accepted by God in Christ. It includes our justification— that is, our being “declared righteous” in his sight. But the term “acceptance” means more than that. It signifies that God is satisfied with us and that we are objects of his delight.

How marvelous that we, being mere mortals— sinners, spiritual “worms”— should be the objects of divine love! But how can this be possible? It is only possible as we are “in Christ,” the Beloved Son of God.

Some Christians seem to be accepted in their own right— at least, that’s their perception. When their spirit is lively and their hopes are bright, they think God accepts them because they feel so high, so heavenly-minded, so drawn above the earth! But when their souls cleave to the dust, they fear they are no longer accepted. If they could but see that all their emotional highs don’t exalt them in God’s presence and all their lowly depression doesn’t demote them in their Father’s sight but that they stand accepted in the One who never alters— in One who is always the beloved of God, always perfect, always without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. How much happier they would be, and how much more they would honor the Savior!

Rejoice, then, believer, in this: You are accepted “in the Beloved.” You look within, and you rightly say, “There is nothing acceptable here!” But look at Christ, and see if there isn’t everything acceptable there. Your sins trouble you; but in Christ, the Righteous One, God has cast your sins behind his back, and you are accepted. Know with full confidence your glorious standing—in Christ. [M&E]