Proving What is Good and Acceptable to God
- His Servant - Rob McKee
- Jul 12, 2020
- 12 min read
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We find the instructions within God’s Holy Word that tells us:
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Not only should we hang on tightly to the good, but also…
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Problem though? You know what it is, don’t you?
Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Yep, there are many blind people in the world. They simply cannot tell the difference between what is truly good (by God’s definition), and what evil really looks like. Why? Let’s continue reading…
Isaiah 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Jeremiah 4:22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
Without the knowledge and wisdom imparted by God’s Holy Spirit, we can never fully understand what good is, because we do not understand who God really is. Without Him revealing Himself to us, we cannot see Him.
Mark 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
What does mankind know on their own? -Sin. That’s about it as it pertains to the spiritual realm. Sure they can recite scripture and scratch the surface “letter” of the Word, but the understanding must be revealed by the Holy Spirit.
John 6:63-64 It is The Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not.
There are some that will never do what God instructs them to do because they do not really believe what He is saying. If they choose not to believe, then He has no reason to show them more. Read about some of the people in the Old Testament that were instructed of God and chose to fear rather than obey:
Hebrews 4:6-7 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.
John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my Word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
But we must be able to discern between good and evil / right and wrong if we are ever going to learn how to do good and hate evil, right?
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
1 John 2:29 If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.
Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
So, where do you stand concerning this subject? Where do I stand? We need to know that we have the ability to know the difference between right and wrong, right?
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall
Does it matter? It makes all the difference. This separates the “boys from the men”, as they used to say, and the girls from the ladies… the true followers of Christ from those who live in deception and error.
Malachi 3:13-18 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.
Where does God begin to look upon us and become inclined to trust us with Truth? Where do we get stated on this path of learning the ability to discern between good and evil?
Proverbs 15:32-33 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
The fear of God, and humility. Remember that Jesus came here to leave us an example, so that we might know how to serve God in the way acceptable to Him? We therefore need to reverence Him and strive to be like our Lord.
James 5:10-11 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Remember the Words of Our Lord that we read earlier?
John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my Word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
We find the knowledge of God; the ability to discern between what is right and what is wrong in His sight through His Word!
Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
What else is God looking for?
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
So, just like any good recipe, we have to start with the correct ingredients, and then follow the instructions perfectly, if we the desired result, that is. The ingredients here are:
1. Fear of God
2. Seeing and having sorrow due to your separation from Him (godly sorrow)
3. Recognizing and acknowledging that you need His help to escape this world
4. His Word and a will to perform it
All of these ingredients, Friends, prove that you not only believe in Him, but that you have faith in Jesus Christ, because you are a doer of His Word, and not a hearer only…
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
It was said that “we have to start with the correct ingredients”, right? What then? Well, if we do (show ourselves faithful), that which we can hear of Him, He will give us more…
Isaiah 28:9-10 Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little
What do newborns drink, wine? Of course not, they drink milk, right? Newborn babes in Christ are no different.
Jesus said – John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
What else would you not do with a newborn? Would you let them out into the world alone? The answer is “NO”! Why? Because they do not have the knowledge of good and evil, neither can they tell the difference between right and wrong. God is no different…
John 14:15-18 If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:26-27 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Sounds like a father assuring his children that He will see to it that they are okay?
But Jesus did tell us to “continue” in His Word. This is because children are designed to grow up and to become self-sufficient adults. Why, that they might also be able to help care for others.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
What other differences would we expect to find between a child and an adult? Think about this:
Let’s say that we are employers. We have a young and very new employee who always seems to cut corners, or simply do the wrong thing. Despite all of the training that we think we have provided for them, they just seem to not be able to comprehend right from wrong in most cases – not all, but most. It would be easy to let them go and find someone else, right? But, we see that they really do possess a heart to do what is right and please us but, never-the-less, they are struggling to do so.
Recognizing the intentions of their heart, they find grace in our sight, and we therefore choose to have mercy on them, and so take them under our wing to protect them and nurture them to become prosperous in their work. In the end, they become so loyal to us that they are known as the best employee in our organization. Now we even have them help train our new people.
This person remembers the how we took them by the hand at first, and fed them slowly, and so they have learned to likewise show great compassion on new employees. In fact, many people who hear of, or encounter this ‘disciple’ of ours, wants to also come and work for us!
So, what is an example of “milk of the Word”? Remember that the milk is the first thing that we feed infants.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures
Yes, the truth about His death, burial, and resurrection are part of that milk that we all must hear and believe once we first come to God in sincerity. Many in the world will tell you that this is where it ends. Oh, it is good to learn of God, and to memorize His Word, you can even do some things that you find in it, however (they say), “all you need to do is believe”, and they are most-often referring to only the actual events concerning His death, burial, and resurrection – in a literal, letter of the Word fashion, no more.
Folks, it goes so much further than this!
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.
See how, in our story about the employee, in the end they became the trainer? This is because this employee knows the requirements like the back of their hand; they are able to not only see and discern the right way from the wrong way, but they can instruct others!
Hebrews 5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Why can’t we just remain infants?
Luke 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Right? Well, this represents the humility and open mind to the knowledge of The Truth that we must have when we first come to God seeking salvation. He, by no means, expects us to remain as little children. His calling includes us becoming soldiers.
1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
2 Timothy 2:1-4 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Ephesians 4:13-16 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 3:14-19 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Why do we need to know and call what God calls “good” good? What God calls “evil”, evil? -So that we can do the good! Ever hear of useless information? The only useless information in The Word of God, is any information that we might choose to disregard!
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Proverbs 28:9-10 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
James 2:18-20 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Job 8:20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will He help the evil doers
Ephesians 6:23-24 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
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