2 Cor 5:9 – Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Think of this passage for a minute, re-read it and let it sink in. The Apostle Paul here declared that he continued to “labour” for God’s acceptance, and by extension that we should to. The word “labour” means to strive earnestly, to make it your aim. What are we aiming for? to live and conduct ourselves in a manner “acceptable” to Him. This is so completely counter to the dominant Christian message of the day. Today we hear something to the effect of, “Why are you working to try and gain God’s acceptance? you have it already! Nothing can add to it! Quit trying so hard to be pleasing to Him! nothing you can do will make God love and accept you anymore than he already does, you are the apple of His eye! so quit beating yourself up, just kick back and rest in His unmerited favor!”.

Yet, scripturally, it seems that we should be of the exact opposite mind-set. Rather than turning a blind eye to our behaviour and try to act like it doesn’t make much difference, we should instead analyze and scrutinize it meticulously. We should be constantly aware of our attitudes, moods and behaviour as if we were living continually before God’s ever watchful eye, which actually, we are. We should analyze every action, every reaction to determine if it is consistent with a person walking in the Spirit. We need to be aware and recognize when and where we fall short and make whatever life changes are necessary to put to death the deeds of the flesh, truly walk in the Spirit.….and live. This will strike right at the core of our day-to-day life and force us to own up to those things, anything, which is not consistent with Christ-like attitudes and behaviour. It will force us to fall on our faces before Him each day and cry out “oh, Lord, who is sufficient for these things?” Well, the truth is we are not, but He is, it is only by His strength and power working mightily through us, that we can accomplish this…..and accomplish this we can IF we will yield to the Spirit by faith, and it is a big “IF”. 

If we yield to the Spirit the Lord will work mightily in and through us, if we don’t, He won’t, it’s as simple as that….the choice is always ours. As believers, it is WE who decide how we will live before Him and how things will go for us as a result. The principle of sowing and reaping is always in effect, especially for believers. If we sow into the Spirit, we will reap life, if we sow into the flesh, we will reap death…..there is no end-around for anyone.

The title passage is not the only passage in scripture that suggests we should labour for His acceptance and consistently strive to walk is a manner that is pleasing to Him: 

Col 1:10 – That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

1 Jn 3:22 – And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

This is not referring simply to external “labour for the kingdom” kind of stuff, but mainly to our inward heart, to our attitudes, to humility, to personal holiness, to consecration and moral purity. We are called to labour to rid ourselves of all anger, wrath, malice, covetousness, etc., any of the deeds of the flesh.

Eph 4:31-32 – Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.  

2 Cor 7:1 – Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.