To be Pleasing and Acceptable

Continuing from my last post, Thoughts on Job, I wanted to post a few thoughts from Sunday's evening sermon on finding out what is acceptable and pleasing to God.

If you look in the Bible at Ephesians 5:10-21 you'll find a convenient list of what God finds acceptable and unacceptable.


“and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."

You can put your list together from this passage, verse by verse:
Acceptable:
Loving like Christ
Thanksgiving
Walking as children of light
Expose darkness
Be wise
Be filled with the Spirit
Using every opportunity to do good

Unacceptable:
Impurity
Coveting
Filthiness/foolish talk
Crude joking
Sexually immoral
Idolatry
Darkness
Unfruitful works of darkness
Unwise
Foolishness
Drunkenness

I loved this closing thought taken from Philippians 4:6; Galatians 5:15; James 2
"The Word of God reveals us to ourselves as we really are; once we see who we are, we must do what pleases God."

I would love to hear your thoughts on these verses and lists!

*Teaser... We had a maternity photo shoot a couple weekends ago, pictures to come!

Blessings,

M~