God Now Accepteth

 Evening Devotion

DECEMBER 5

 

…God now accepteth thy works. 

-Ecclesiastes 9:7

 
When? When he has accepted thy person and is reconciled to thee.
 
For God never accepts our works while we are his avowed enemies, this would be to accept the works of a rebel—of a traitor—of one who is at enmity against him.
 
God accepts our persons when we accept his Son.
 
Jesus is presented to us in the gospel as God’s free gift, as a Saviour suited to our case, as a blessing which includes all we do, or can need.
 
This gift is ejected by men in general, they put it from them, and treat it with contempt.
 
We did this once.
 
But when the Holy Spirit quickened our souls—enlightened our minds—and wrought faith in our hearts, then we gladly embraced him.
 
Having received Christ from God, we are received by God from Christ; we are accepted in him and entitled to all spiritual blessings through him.
 
God now accepteth our works, poor, imperfect, and worthless as they are: because they are the works of a beloved child, the efforts of a feeble friend, the production of a loyal subject.
 
The cup of cold water, the will to do, or to give, when we have not the power is accepted, and placed to our account.
 

Accepted in Jesus and living on him,

His promise I trust and his precepts esteem;

I strive to be holy, I labour for God,

And my works are approv’d thro’ his merit and blood.

 
James Smith