Daily Bread - Dec 22 2006

Acts 10:35 - "But in every nation he who fears Him and practices righteousness is acceptable."

The Greek word 'dekton,' which means "acceptable," is used often in the Old Testament of the quality of sacrifice that is acceptable to God. 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 by the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, we are made holy and acceptable so that we may present our lives as an offering to God (Romans 12:1). Paul said that the Gentile 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 way 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 they who serve God in these things are acceptable to God and approved of men (Romans 14:17-18).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org