Our world is full of fakes, knockoffs and cheap imitations. When you want the real deal, you have to work hard to figure out if something is legit. Paul tells the Ephesians that they must “try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (v10). We need to come up with a way to put stuff to the test and determine if its the real deal in order to please Jesus. Is it legit? How can we be Jesus pleasers?
In the ESV, translators use the phrase “try to discern” (v10). This is the Greek verb dokimazo, which means to test, examine, prove, scrutinize or deem worthy. This was from a word that described the acceptance of money as legit. First century culture didn’t use paper money. Only coins. Some folks would shave the soft edges and reduce their true value. The only way you could really determine whether a coin was the real deal was to weigh it. Only then was it approved. All others were counterfeit. It was the idea of checking something out to see if it was the real deal. In one of Jesus’ parables, He told of a dude who bought some livestock and was on his way “to examine (Gr. dokimazo) them” (Lk 14:19). Paul told the Corinthians to basically run a background check the people “whom you accredit (Gr. dokimazo) by letter” to carry their financial aid to the starving church in Jerusalem (1Cor 16:3). According to the apostle, we’re to check out every part of our lives to see if they are legit and pleasing to Jesus. We’re to “test everything (Gr. dokimazo)” (1Th 5:21), not just religious things. Is something real or is someone legit? That’s the point.
You see, Jesus accepts no counterfeits. He knows which of us have truly placed our faith in Him. We can’t please Him without trusting in Him (Heb 11:6). We trust in the fact of His perfect life instead of our complete failure. We trust in His death on the cross for our sin that we should have died. We trust in His glorious new life that we certainly don’t deserve. It’s what He’s done. Not what we do. And once we trust Him, we can’t help but please Him. We’re Jesus pleasers. Are there times when we break His heart by what we do or say or think? Absolutely. But that’s only because He loves us, accepts us and wants His best for us. He knows our hearts. He knows who are His. He knows who trusts. He knows who’s legit. He knows who are the real Jesus pleasers.
If something or someone is legit, Paul tells us that it “is pleasing to the Lord” (v10). He uses the Greek word euarestos. It means acceptability or well pleasing. It puts a smile on Jesus’ face. We learn to do that as God makes us more and more like our Savior (Rom 8:29). He does this through His Holy Spirit, slowly but steadily changing us from the inside out. Folks who tuck in their shirts call this sanctification. God accomplishes a big part of this is by what Paul calls “the renewal of the mind” (Rom 12:2). As that happens, “you may discern (Gr. dokimazo) what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable (Gr. euarestos) and perfect” (Rom 12:2). If you were paying attention, you’ll notice Paul used both of those words again! God gives us a new mind (think of it as a mind transplant) so we will be able to figure out what He wants us to do. What is good for us. What is acceptable to Him. What is perfect. That’s the same as walking as “children of light” (Eph 5:8) and letting His light discern out “all that is good and right and true” (Eph 5:9). Think of it as His UV light that exposes a hand stamp.
Let His light shine in your life. Let Him help you determine if things are legit. Be a Jesus pleaser.
I would love to know what you think. Drop a comment below and let's chat. I would find that most pleasing.
I would love to know what you think. Drop a comment below and let's chat. I would find that most pleasing.
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