Legalistic people persecuted Jesus Christ and Paul. Does that mean they
     were not accepted in the beloved? No. These men were highly favored by
     those who walked with the love of God because God was with them. They were
     rejected only by people who were not accompanying God or thought
     themselves The Judge.

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein
he hath made us accepted in the beloved
[Greek: agapeo]

     "to grace, i.e. indue with special honor:--make accepted, be highly favoured."

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail,
thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with
[a primary preposition (often used adverbially);
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid"]
thee: blessed [spoken well of, praised]
art thou among women.

     We are highly favored, made accepted, or given special honor because the Lord
     our God is with us also. Further, being highly favored has its root in grace.

     Since God is with us, He accompanies us with our permission. He accepts us
     and loves us in spite of our faults. He saved us by grace. We did not earn His
     companionship.

     I am NOT saying that because God will love us anyway, that we have a free license
     to walk in sin. Let's get for real. Grace is not an excuse to willfully disobey
     God. If we have despised God, rejected Him and flicked off His
     Commandments, then we are no longer accompanying HIM.

     Those who walk with God's love will love you unconditionally. They may tell you
     the truth that you may not want to hear but it is still loving. Does not God
     teach us things that are hard to hear at times?

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray
for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is
in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and
on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the
unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have
ye? do not even the publicans the same?

     Those who love God and accompany God are highly favored among them who
     walk in the love of God. It is easy to love, accept, bless and honor
     them who love you like God loves. What is challenging is to love those who do not.
     Amen.

-Carol Kenreigh