The Search for Significance

Approval Addict 73
proval. All the time, energy, and effort we have
spent to achieve respect and success cannot compare
to the contentment and joy found in the unconditional
acceptance of Christ.
So then, our worth lies in the fact that Christ's
blood has paid for our sins and, therefore, we are
reconciled to God. We are accepted on that basis
alone, but does this great truth indicate that we
don't need other people in our lives? On the contrary,
God very often uses other believers to
demonstrate His love and His acceptance to us.
The strength, comfort, encouragement, and love of
Christians toward one another is a visible expression
of the love of God. However, our acceptance
and worth are not dependent on others' acceptance
of us, even if they are fellow-believers! Whether
they accept us or not we are still deeply loved,
completely forgiven, fully pleasing, totally accepted,
and complete in Christ. He. alone is the final
authority on our worth and acceptance.
A BEGINNING EXERCISE
How do we learn to reject Satan's lie,
"I must be
approved by certain others to feel good about myself}'*
How can we begin to practically apply the
great truth of our reconciliation to Almighty God?
The following exercise will help you begin to experience
the freedom and joy of reconciliation.
Consider this passage from Revelation, Chapter 12:
"And I heard a loud voice in heaven,
saying, 'Now the salvation, and the power,
and the kingdom of our God and the authority
of His Christ have come, for the
accuser of our brethren has been thrown
down, who accuses them before our Cod
day and night.
"'And they overcame him because of
the blood of the Lamb and because of the