3 ACCEPTANCE

1 Thessalonians 1:1c

Grace and peace to you.

Paul believed in and practiced 'unconditional love and acceptance'. God showed him mercy and he 'became somebody' when he was brought by God into a relationship with

Christ. Even though he had an excellent 'pedigree' (Galatians 2:15), he considered it 'dung' compared to knowing (and being known by and loved by) Christ (Philippians 3:8). 

He was shown mercy and acceptance and, therefore, did the same towards others. 

He had no right to do otherwise. He was required by grace to show mercy toward all people. Grace is unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor and mercy when we deserve punishment and rejection. 

To do this as managers and leaders is extraordinarily difficult. To bring a Christian-based values system into the workplace requires unparalleled grace (and wisdom) because most forms of acceptance in our real world are based on performance, status, power...what you know, and who you know; what you own or where you live, or on how much money you earn! Reward and punishment are based on performance outputs and not on the direction we are moving in – or your heart while you do so!  

Most of our performance management systems know no other way - and are too often woefully ineffective, inconsistent, and unfair - not to mention ‘un-transparent’! But every human being has an in-built need to be treated with dignity and respect and to be valued in this way for no other reason other than because God made them. God 'wired' us this way. It is the most powerful starting point for any leader, manager, or organization to show fairness, respect, acceptance, and support for their people. It can release potential in people like nothing else - and usually, performance will follow.

PRAYER ACTION

Remember that time when and how God reached out to you, found you, wooed you, nudged you, worked on you and showed you unconditional love! Did you earn it, deserve it, or work for it?  Pray for and deliberately, proactively, purposefully, and humbly reach out and show kindness and acceptance to that one person who you know, or suspect in your heart, really needs it.

"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. 

You plan to build a tower that will pierce the clouds? 

Lay first the foundation of humility."

(St Augustine)