GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE. 1st Timothy 2:3. “Good” refers to the nature of things. When God created everything, He considered what He had made, and it “was good.” After creation week, when He saw everything functioning as He intended, He looked, “And behold, it was very good.” The tree in the garden was God’s test for mankind, whom He created in His image, to determine if giving humans free will would lead them to worship Him or if man would settle for what he wanted first.
Failure occurred, yet God has a way of linking His will with mankind. He ensures that we know what He intends to say and then gives us the opportunity to fulfill His will. Through the new birth, God grants a new nature to those who repent of their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He empowers His people to do good, not in our strength but in His, so we can participate in His work if we are willing.
Whether in prevailing prayer or labor for God, we can dedicate ourselves to meaningful pursuits, and God makes it possible for these pursuits to be good. Because of that, we can bring glory to God. What is acceptable to God is what truly matters in this life. Men judge based on what pleases them, but in contrast, God knows when labor and prayer are heartfelt expressions coming from within. Whatever I pray for, and for whomever I intercede, the most important thing to me is that I can pray, and that God meets the needs of those He knows are willing to submit to Him.
In the school of life, many lessons can only be learned through experience. There are also things we know that must be unlearned. Our love for the truth and our inner connection with divine Persons are genuine in those whom God’s grace has transformed. God has greater plans for us than we can imagine.
However, the influence of a Spirit-guided person that God uses, no matter how new in the faith they may be, makes those around them aware of a real difference. To some extent, people may feel uncomfortable being too close to someone who lives “godly in Christ Jesus.” We will show both inward and outward affection to some degree, but as children of God grow spiritually, even though we are not completely free from the flesh, our inner selves long to be more like Christ. A new creation in Christ Jesus is not truly drawn to the natural interests of the world unless they continually grieve or quench the Spirit of God. Our new nature has spiritual desires that claim our hearts because we value being saved by God’s grace. We will never find true rest until we find it in Christ alone.
Love for Christ cannot be “affected” for long. When love is genuine, it shows. If it is just “affectation,” it will seem only temporary. True love has no time limits. Time doesn’t diminish it because it is beyond time and even triumphs over adversity. The light of love within us becomes brighter; outward appearances give way to the inward blessings of grace, mercy, and love itself. When God is in control and we are willing to be guided by Him, even the outward, temporary aspects of life change so they no longer look the same to the spiritual mind. The Spirit of life in Christ gives us a completely new perspective on the things of time and sense.
Fruitfulness in serving God can manifest in many different ways. The Spirit of God blesses our awareness of the differences in each person, even though everyone shares certain life principles. Some individuals follow lower principles, while others live according to higher principles. If the only benefit we gain from our new life of faith is the awareness of sonship, we miss the purpose of living and the power of God working through us to produce fruitful service for Him. We are meant to grasp what Christ has grasped us for. Our service to God, as life goes on, is both outward and inward. Both are valued in God’s eyes.
When we gather as an assembly of believers to pray, this should be a regular practice among the saints. Our prayers should cover all people, including kings and those in authority (Intercessions). We owe our government officials our prayers [Pr.29:2; Rom.13:1-7]. Examples include Moses, a selfless leader [Ex.32:1-14] who was willing to be erased from the Lord’s book if it meant saving Israel. Samuel, a faithful prophet [1Sam.7:8-9; 15:24-31], interceded for Israel and Saul because of their sins. Daniel, a humble statesman [Dan.9:3-20], pleaded for Judah by identifying himself with the sins of the nation. Epaphras, a loving brother [Col.4:12], prayed for the Colossians that they might be mature and complete in God's will. Paul was an eager soul winner [Eph.1:16-20; 3:16-21], earnestly asking God that the Ephesians might experience His abundant riches. John, the loving disciple [3Jn.2], prayed for Gaius that his soul would prosper. The greatest example is Christ, our gracious Lord and faithful High Priest [Lu.22:32; Jn.17], who prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail, and He continues to pray for us now.