As Christians, we are given this admonition: “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8-10).

What is acceptable to the Lord might seem obvious to us. After all, we are created in the likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). So whatever is acceptable to us must be acceptable to Him, correct? If we think something is good, why would God not accept it?

We might ask Cain that question. Or King Saul. Or the folks who started building the great tower at Babel. Human history is littered with things people created or offered to God, only to face the consequences of His displeasure. In each of these cases, the people believed at the time that they were doing good — why? Because what they did was acceptable to themselves. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

When you sit down in a restaurant, does the waiter or waitress immediately begin to bring you food and drink? Of course not — the first words they say to you once you’ve settled in are, “What’ll you have?” or something to that effect. Sometimes they even clarify your desires further. If you order a steak, they ask how you like it cooked. If your meal comes with a baked potato, they ask whether you wish butter or sour cream or both. If you want coffee, they find out whether you drink it with cream or sugar. What’s the purpose of all these questions? To find out what is acceptable to you.

Just as the waitperson in the restaurant is there to serve the diners, we — to an even higher degree — are here to serve God. Before we can even begin, we must find out what is acceptable to Him. What does He want us to do? When and where does He want it done? In what manner does He intend the task to be carried out?

That’s why God has given us His word — so we can find out what is acceptable to Him. “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). How God wants us to live, how we can be godly before Him — it’s all in the Scriptures. We don’t have to wonder, “Will God like this? Will He approve of this action?” He has told us, in as much detail as is necessary, what He accepts. What we must do, as noted in our text, is find out just what that is.

For this reason, we’re told that the Scriptures are profitable for “instruction in righteousness” and that they equip us “for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible enables us to find out what pleases God, and how to do it. When we ignore God’s instructions regarding righteousness, we end up trying to establish our own, with disastrous results (Romans 10:1-3).

Although we possess some characteristics that reflect the image of God, we do not think or understand as He does (Isaiah 55:8-9). What might make perfect sense from our perspective might be abhorrent to God. The only way we can know is to find out what God has revealed, and follow that explicitly.

That we can find out what is acceptable to God also demonstrates that we can learn what He will not accept. Indeed, the very fact that some things are acceptable to God presupposes that other things must be unacceptable. To revisit our example, the waitperson understands that you won’t like, or perhaps simply don’t want, everything on the menu. That’s why he or she takes your order — to avoid bringing you something that’s not to your preference.

Presenting to God what is unacceptable means a penalty far worse than an undersized gratuity. Nadab and Abihu, the eldest sons of Aaron, lost their lives because they “offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them” (Leviticus 10:1). Saul had the kingdom of Israel torn from his rule because he allowed the people to keep as offerings what God had ordered destroyed (1 Samuel 15). Jesus affirmed that He will reject many who fail to do the will of His Father, even though they do “many wonders” in His name (Matthew 7:21-23).

It’s easy to find out what is acceptable to the Lord: read His word, “the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 3:15). Through diligent study and application of the Bible’s teachings, you need have no fear that what you do in service to the Lord will not be acceptable to Him (2 Timothy 2:15).