Accept Me As I Am

Romans 14:1 NIV

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.

One of the most memorable scenes from the movie New Jack City is the moment where Nino pulls a gun on Gee Money. With tears in his eyes, Gee Money asks him repeatedly "Am I my brother's keeper?" Nino responds "yes I am" just as he shoots the man that had once been bonded to him like a brother. Nino killed his brother because he couldn't accept his betrayal. He could not accept that Gee Money had failed to live up to his expectations. Killing him was Nino's way of saying I reject you. I cannot live with you as you are.

Many of us cried for Gee Money because it was a pivotal point in the movie. How many of us realized that scene was simply a Hollywood depiction of the bible story of Cain and Abel? Cain's jealousy and rejection of his brother is one of history's first recordings of betrayal. It is one of the first examples of what happens when we cannot accept people for who they are. Cain could not accept the good that was in his brother.

Genesis 4:6-7 NIV

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Cain was angry. Nino was disappointed. The result was the same. A life was lost because feelings dictated actions. Feelings got in the way of understanding. Feelings got in the way of accepting the triumphs and the failures of a person that God said love.

We cannot accept anyone without first loving them. I don't mean this love that the world is accustomed to that is based on deeds and feelings. I mean the love that God gives freely. The love that comes from being spiritually in tune with the ways and the will of God. The love that begins when we open ourselves to God and accept Him as He is. For accepting God is step one on the path to accepting others.

Adayinthelife:-)