Throughout a lifetime, there are many types of relationships that we find ourselves engaging with others. The are relationships built on toleration, manipulation, retaliation, and negotiation. But few rise to the level of acceptance, even full acceptance. Human relationships are always unfolding. We are always uncovering and discovering things about others, and even ourselves, that impact our commitment to a relationship. Over time, attitudes and acceptance can change. The scripture passage teaches us that God “accepted us in the Beloved.” The children of God are all Divinely loved in Christ Jesus, “the Beloved” (Mt 3:16). “While we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8) and he died not that we should work to earn God’s acceptance and approval, but “made us accepted in the Beloved.” What an awesome privilege that nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:35). God does not change and His love and acceptance for those who are “in the beloved” never changes. His love and acceptance are constant, even in the high times when we are overjoyed and filled with excitement. Those “in the Beloved” cannot be loved and accepted anymore by their heavenly Father. He does not love and acceptance any less, even in the low times, when we feel that we have disappointed Him, and He disapproves of our failure to temptation and sin. Those low times and fallen times are the times when we susceptible to the emotional attacks of the devil, where he will drop seeds of discouragement and doubt, that our failure has deemed us unloved and unacceptable of God. But dear friend, resist those seeds of doubt and discouragement and disappointment, for God has provided a way of escape in His word that “He hath made us acceptable in the Beloved.” Dispel the lies and devilish attacks that would invade your thoughts and renew your mind with the truths in the word of God. My friend, give to God “the praise of the glory of His grace” for He has made us divinely delighted “in the Beloved.” Father, thank You for Your unceasing love and unchanged acceptance. Thank You for the eternal hope that is “in the Beloved.” In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.