Accepted and Approved

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Today's reading titled, Accepted and Approved, was written by Leslie Coe. As a child, Tenney felt insecure. He sought approval from his father, but he never received it. It seemed that whatever he did, whether in school or at home, it was never good enough. Even when he entered adulthood, the insecurity remained.

He continually wondered, Am I good enough? Only when Tenney received Jesus as his Savior did he find the security and approval he had long yearned for. He learned that God, having created him, loved and cherished him as his son. Tenney finally could live with the confidence that he was truly valued and appreciated. In Isaiah 43 verses 1-4, God told his chosen people that, having formed them, he would use his power and love to redeem them. You are precious and honored in my sight, he proclaimed.

He would act on their behalf, because he loved them. The value God places on those he loves doesn't come from anything we do, but from the simple and powerful truth that he's chosen us to be his own. These words in Isaiah 43 not only gave Tenney great security, but also empowered him with the confidence to do his best for God in whatever task he was called to do.

Today, he's a pastor who does all he can to encourage others with this life-giving truth. We're accepted and approved in Jesus. May we confidently live out this truth today.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Isaiah 43 verses 1-4. But now this is what the Lord says, He who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel, do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The flames will not set you ablaze, for I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

Since you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Let's pray. Lord, so many people either don't know their earthly father or have experienced great pain in their relationship. We pray for them today. May they sense you reaching out to them and inviting them into your family, where they can experience complete fulfillment in you. Thank you for adopting us as your children and loving us without condition. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Thanks for listening today. I'm Stephen, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.