Basic Insights on Self-Acceptance

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.

(John 17:3) Now this is eternal life: That they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

(John 10:10)…...I am come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly.

(Philippians 3:8)…..I count all things to be but loss for the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord;...

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.

(II Timothy 2:20-22) But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earth: and some indeed unto honour, but some unto dishonour. If any man therefore shall cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and profitable to the Lord, prepared unto every good work. But flee thou youthful desires.....

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 rightfuly have. We see him trying this on Adam and Eve in the Garden.

(Genesis 3:4,5) And the serpent said.... No, you shall not die the death. For God doth know that in what day soever you shall eat thereof, your eyes shall be opened: and you shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil.

(Colossians 2:8-10) Beware lest any man cheat you...For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporeally; And you are filled (or complete) in him...

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

(Job 10:8,9) Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me wholly round about,...Remember, that thou hast made me as the clay,....

(Isaias 45:9) Woe to him that gainsayeth his maker, a sherd of the earthen pots: shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it: What art thou making?....

 God is not finished making us yet.

(Ephesians 2:10) For we are (present continous action) his workmanship...

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

(I Samuel 16:7) And the Lord said to Samuel: Look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature....(For I do not) judge according to the look of man: for man seeth those things that appear, but the Lord beholdeth the heart.

(Isaias 53:2)...there is no beauty in him (Jesus), nor comeliness (attractiveness): and we have seen him, and there was no sightliness, that we should be desirous of him:

There is a universal ideal on inward character qualities. God wants to reproduce the character of Jesus Christ in us by the power of God's Spirit and Gods grace.

(Romans 8:29) For whom he foreknew, he also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of his Son (Jesus Christ);...

(Galatians 4:19) My little children, of whom I am in labour again, until Christ be formed in you.

 The character of Jesus Christ is seen in the fruit of the Holy Ghost.

(Galatians 5:22,23) But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity (kindness or tolerance), goodness, longanimity (a disposition to bear injuries patiently), Mildness (Non aggressive), faith, modesty, continency (self control), chastity.

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

(Matthew 5:3-12) Blessed are the poor in spirit... Blessed are the meek:.... Blessed are they that mourn:... Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice:... the merciful:... the clean of heart.... the peacemakers... the persecuted for justice' sake. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven.

If Necessary, God sacrifices outward beauty to develop inward qualities, Since our happiness is based on having these qualities.

(II Corinthians 4:10) Always bearing about in our body the mortification of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodies.

(II Corinthians 4:16-17) Though our outward man is corrupted, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For that which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation, worketh for us above measure exceedingly an eternal weight of glory.

(Romans 9:20,21) Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it: Why hast thou made me thus? Or hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

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

(I Peter 2:9) But you are a chosen generation....that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

(II Corinthians 3:2) You are our epistle.....which is known and read by all men.

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

(II Corinthians 12:9,10) My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.....For when I am weak, then am I powerful.

(I Corinthians 1:27,29,31) But the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the wise; and the weak things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the strong......That no flesh should glory in his sight....That, as it is written: He that glorieth, may glory in the Lord.

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

(Exodus 4:11,12) The Lord said to him: Who made man's mouth? or who made the dumb and the deaf, the seeing and the blind? did not I? Go therefore and I will be in thy mouth: and I will teach thee what thou shalt speak.

[Let it be known that most of these lessons I have been writing are taken from the Institute in Basic Life Principles with a few changes here and there. Also the scripture references were changed from the King James version to the Douay Rheims Version of the Bible. The Institute in Basic Life Principles is a Protestant organization, and they are not recommended by His Holiness or the Church for that reason.]