I often talk about acceptable gifts. The English language doesn’t have a word that fully expresses the idea of “acceptable.”
In today’s dictionary, the word can sometimes mean “barely good enough.”
But in God’s vocabulary, “acceptable” is a powerful concept.
King David understood its meaning:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
Your Bible translation may say “acceptable,” or it may say “pleasing.” The words are often used interchangeably in scriptures.
Isaiah talks about the kind of fast that is acceptable to God (Isaiah 58:5). This would be a fast that is pleasing to Him, certainly not “barely good enough.”
The Apostle Paul describes certain monetary gifts from this perspective:
[They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights. (Philippians 4:18 Amplified Bible).
When I think of “acceptable” in these ways, I imagine a word that could encapsulate the feeling you have when you receive an unexpected gift from a little child.
What word could express a combination of delightful, surprising, perfect, tearful, proud, ecstatic, and happy?
That’s what “acceptable” means.
In David’s song to the Lord, perhaps what he was really saying was something like:
“Let all that I say and all that I think about Bring a big, joyful smile to Your face, and make You really proud of me.”
Getting the picture?
Our gifts today can do a lot of good. They can feed the hungry, heal the sick, encourage the brokenhearted, and spread the good news. But most importantly, they can please God in heaven, connecting His children to Him.
Think about that. Is this a new concept for you?
