Daily Bread - Nov 30 2006

Acts 10:35 - "But in every nation those who fear Him and practice righteousness are acceptable."

The Greek word, 'dekton,' which means, "acceptable," is used often in the Old Testament sacrificial system. The acceptable offerings are those offerings which a worshiper can worship God with. "If his offering is a whole burnt offering of the oxen, it shall be a perfect male which he shall bring to the door of the tent of meeting; he shall come near; for it is acceptable before YHWH" (Leviticus 1:3).

Through the transformation of life that was brought to us through Jesus Christ, God has made us holy and acceptable so that we can live our lives as an offering to God which is "holy and acceptable" (Romans 12:1). Paul said that the Gentiles were made acceptable to God because they were sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:16). In Proverbs, God says "to do righteousness and judgment is more acceptable than sacrifice" (Proverbs 21:3). All worshipers, along with the Psalmist, cry out to God and say, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight oh Lord my strength and my redeemer (Psalms 19:14).

When Jesus began His ministry He introduced the acceptable day of the Lord wherein God is calling all men to repent and turn back to the ways of righteousness, purity, and holiness for which we were created (Luke 4:19; Isaiah 61:2; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:9). God has called us to live in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost to which Paul says that those who serve God in these things are acceptable to God and approved of men (Romans 14:17-18).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org