Accepted in the Beloved *By Pastor John McKay

Accepted in the Beloved *
*By Pastor John McKay *
*

"To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us
accepted in the Beloved" (Eph. 1:6).

Alfred the Great was made king of an ancient division of England known
as Wessex. Early in his reign he suffered devastating losses at the
hands of the Danes. His men scattered and he was reduced to hiding in
the cottage of a simple herdsman. Dressed as a peasant, Alfred did
chores for the family, and once was scolded for letting the bread burn.
Although the humble family did not know who they were scolding, Alfred
displayed patience and humility. After he regathered his forces and went
on to victory over the Danes, he returned---we are told---to thank and
repay the herdsman for the kindnesses shown to him. Needless to say, he
was fully received and treated as their King.

In a much more significant way, the Lord Jesus Christ "came unto His
own, and His own received Him not." The princes of this world did not
know the hidden wisdom of God, "for had they known it, they would not
have crucified the Lord of glory." He was "despised and rejected of
men," and still is by this present world-system. Although the Lord Jesus
is now in glory, the world continues to reject Him. The principle that
we are being rejected because He is being rejected is found in John 15:20.

Ephesians 1:6 brilliantly shines peace, patience, and comfort unto us.
The Heavenly Father "hath made us accepted in the Beloved." When faith
is in the Son of God and His death for our sin, grace makes us
immediately acceptable to God because of the infinite merit of Christ,
and His righteousness to us by that faith! O one day, we shall be
manifested as sons of God.