Joe Frazier’s son Marvis decided that he wanted to keep championship boxing in the Frazier family line. So he started boxing in the heavyweight division, and finally got his shot against Larry Holmes. In the first round, Marvis started to showboat and eventually Holmes caught him with a punch that knocked him down. Marvis got up, only to be hit with fourteen unanswered punches. Later when Marvis Frazier was interviewed on the television series “Beyond the Glory” in 2005, he said that losing that fight was the lowest moment a man could experience. He felt that he’d let down his father–but after the fight was over he looked to the corner and made eye contact with his father. Joe Frazier had a big smile on his face and said, “Don’t even worry about it son, I love you. You are my son.”

Frazier’s reaction to his son epitomizes the importance of unconditional acceptance. Before Jesus started his public ministry He’s baptized in the Jordan by John and the scripture tells us in Matthew 3:17 NKJV, “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.’ ” It’s important to remember that this happened before Jesus ever performed any miracles. But our Heavenly Father wanted Jesus to know that Jesus was loved not for what He did, but for who He was. We live in a world where people do all sorts of crazy things to be accepted, but God wants you to know that He accepts you unconditionally and once you’re in relationship with him He’s proud of you!