10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
Verse 10 is grammatically connected with verse 8— “conduct yourselves as children of light.” Walking in the light involves finding and approving of something.
10 finding out
The words “finding out” is literally, put to the test, to discern, to approve. The idea is to put to the test in order to approve. It is important to constantly determine what pleases the Lord (Ro 12:2). Christians put to the test how goodness, righteousness, and truth work in their lives. We need to ascertain whether who and what we are meets with God’s standards or not.
what is acceptable [pleasing] to the Lord.
Christians need to test for approval what is acceptable to the Lord. It takes some work to decipher what pleases the Lord. Unbelievers attempt to keep sin in the dark. Christians are to manifest the light of what glorifies the Lord.
PRINCIPLE:
Christians must constantly test the standards for pleasing the Lord.
APPLICATION:
The Christians is to ascertain by testing what pleases the Lord. We need to know what applies to the Christian walk. The supreme end of the believer’s life is to glorify God.
The ultimate standard for testing what pleases the Lord, or what is His will, is the Word of God. Knowing God’s will is not some mystical experience. It is something objectively and clearly set forth in Scriptures by the Holy Spirit.
2 Co 5: 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
Co 1: 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;