Becoming Acceptable

Isaiah 49:8 “Thus says the LORD: “In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages;”

This term (acceptable), is from the Hebrew term (Ratson) and it is defined as a perfect sacrifice that is according to God’s will, exactly as He pleases.

Sin demands a sacrifice. The penalty for offending a just and holy God is death and there isn’t a man or woman alive who can stand on their own merits.

There is no sacrifice that is sufficient, all we bring to the altar is imperfection. We had our start in sin and can only present an imperfect sacrifice that is corrupted. If we try to justify ourselves by our own measure of goodness, we will find our offenses ruling against us. The Moral Law has been broken, it’s well defined standard does not bend to any anyone.

There is only One who offered up a perfect sacrifice and that was Jesus. He gave Himself in perfection because He exemplified a life lived in perfection. He came from Heaven to His Creation that He might restore it.

The process of Salvation was God’s plan, the expectation of perfection is demanded by God and yet was fulfilled by His Son—the only hope for mankind is to accept the grace of God that only Jesus provides.

God’s Timing

Romans 5:6 “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

The timing of God’s plan was made acceptable in perfection. Everything in history has been fulfilled perfectly, on time, and without delay and the completion of God’s plan will march forth unimpeded.

Do you feel anxiety over all that is happening in the world today?

You need not fear, the Lord is in control. He has had a plan up until this present hour and He will continue to follow it until the end. We have been called to partake of what God is doing and this plan is fulfilled by us walking in His ways, by keeping our eyes fixed on His goodness, and by submitting to the individual plans He has specifically set aside for each person He has called.

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

The pathway of God is not accomplished through good intent or ‘good’ works.  God’s people follow by keeping their eyes fixed on the Shepherd. They humbly accept His guidance and trust that He is leading them to green pastures.

The path to God is impossible to follow for humankind but Jesus made the way possible…

Romans 5:19  “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”

 Through His sacrifice, all of mankind has been given the opportunity to receive the gift of grace and come before God’s throne justified–without guilt or shame. For those who accept and believe in Christ, Jesus has redeemed His people from death.

His righteousness (perfection) has been bestowed upon those who follow Him because they have been filled with His Spirit.

What will you gain by laying down your life for Christ?

Psalm 121:7 “The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.”   

For those who forsake this world and all that it falsely offers, they will gain far more.

Isaiah 57:13 “When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them all off, a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain.”  

The inheritance of the saints has been and will be far more than anything they have sacrificed.

Let the World Know

*God’s people have been given the task of speaking His truth to those held captive by sin and to those wandering in darkness. The honor of representing Christ is not one to be taken lightly. When someone represents the King of kings, they speak on behalf of His throne—they represent His name. God’s people must remain blameless.

Psalm 15:2 “Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.”

  In sincerity of devotion the people of God partake in His great plan for mankind. The way God involves His people in His plans is by leading them in holiness. Holiness is the method of maintaining fellowship with God, and this is accomplished through the Spirit of God. When His people walk in obedience, He then rejoices with them, because of the loving relationship by which His plan is made complete.  

God’s Spirit rests upon His people and if a person wants to be apart of His work, they must walk according to His ways.

   Becoming acceptable for the work of God’s Kingdom requires perfection and that is only achieved through salvation.

Hebrews 10:14 “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

 The Lord is ruler over all and His people are His servants. His plans will go on whether people are faithful or not, partaking of God’s plans is not a right, it is a privilege. We can either be distracted in our focus and allow the things of this world to dictate our path or we can submit to the things that God has prepared for His people since the beginning of time and partake of His goodness.

The people of God are not made acceptable through service, but rather they are blessed and rewarded by seeking Him and following in His footsteps. Walk before Christ in humility and His hand will lead you as you go.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

When the day comes and you stand before the King of kings, the sacrifice of offering your life to Him will be counted as acceptable only because Christ is in you. In that day you too will rejoice with the rest of the saints of God who laid down their lives for Him.

Only because of Jesus.