September 23

“Accepted in the beloved.” — Ephcsiaiis i. G.

^jJ^yJIAT a state of privilege! It includes our yastifica’ i07i before God; but the term “acceptance,” in the Greek, means more than that. It pignifies that we arc the objects of divine complacency, nay, even of divin* delight. How marvellous that we, worms, mortals, sinners, should be the objects of divine love! But it is only” in the beloved.’’ Some Christians seem to be accepted in their own experience; at least, that is their apprehension. When their spirit is lively, and their hopes bright, they think God accepts them, for they feel so high, so heavenly-minded, so drawn above the earth! But when their souls cleave to the dust, they are the victims of the fear that they are no longer accepted. If they could but see that all their high joys do not exalt them, and all their low despondencies do not really depress them in their Father’s sight, but that they stand accepted in 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 Saviour! Bejoice then, believer, in this: thou art accepted “in the beloved.” Thou lookest within, and thou sayest, “There is nothing acceptable here!” But look at Christ, and see if there i? not everything acceptable there. Thy sins trouble thee; bu God has cast thy sins behind His back, and thou art in the Bighteous One. Thou hast to fight with corruption, and to wrestle with temptation, but thou art already accepted in Ilim who has overcome the powers of evil. The devil tempts thee: be of good cheer, he cannot destroy thee, for thou art accepted in Ilim who has broken Satan’s head. Know by full assurance thy glorious standing. Even glorified souls are not more accepted than thou art. They arc only accepted in heaven “in the beloved,” and thou art pveo now acccpt(pd in Christ after the same manner.