Acceptable to God and Approved of Men Romans 14:18

Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome to, “Let not then your good be evil spoken of”, and he added, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” In chapter fourteen and verse eighteen of Romans, Paul shared with the believers, “he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God” and “approved of men” where we read:

For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

The verse begins, “For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, ...” Paul began with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “he that in these things” or “the person whether male or female concerning righteousness, peace and joy” “serves” which means “is as a slave and servant who yields in obedience toward” “Christ” which refers to “to the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God” “is acceptable” which means “fully agreeable and well pleasing” “to God” or “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Paul declared the person who involves themselves in the spiritual ideas of “righteousness, peace and joy” is “well pleasing” to God Almighty.

The verse goes on to say, “.. and approved of men.” Paul continued with the words, “and approved” which means “and accepted, pleasing and tried” “of men” or “pertaining to human beings whether male or female”. Not only will the person who involves themselves in “righteousness, peace and joy” be “well pleasing” to God, but they shall also be “accepted” by other people.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how “righteousness, peace and joy” are to be the fundamental drives for those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”. When they “serve Christ” in this manner, not only is God “well pleased” with them, but other people are as well. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son”, and from that point forward it is left to each individual to “believe” or “not believe” He has been sent for them. “Righteousness, peace and joy” are to flow from the believer's life, and when they do, God and men shall acknowledge them.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome to, “follow after the things which make for peace”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.