Last weekend I attended a womens conference at my church. I was the high school small group leader, so I admittedly walked into it with more expectations for how God would work in the lives of the girls than how He would work in my own life.
I believe that God did work in the girls lives - but through out the entire weekend I felt like the focus of His presence and attention rested right on me. He spoke to me last weekend, and I came face to face with the perpetual struggle within my soul.
Galatians 1:10 says this:
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
And that, my friends, is the nature of the battle I fight inside. I think this verse should be tattooed on my forehead so that I never forget it. I could share the hundreds of ways that God has shown me that the approval of others is pointless, but I can also tell you that though this battle has been much easier and much less frequent as a result of those lessons, it is still one that I face.
Here is the cool thing: when God was laying that verse on my heart last weekend I was thinking very specifically about ways in which I had recently been consumed with worry about what others thought of me or my family. I assumed that God was humbling me (which, I'm sure He was), and that He was correcting wrong thinking that I had allowed to creep back in over recent days and weeks.
Alright girls, now fast forward one week. I have decided that God's plans are much bigger than we could ever know (surprise!). God was not just humbling me or correcting my thinking; He was preparing me for a battle that was soon to come.
You see, I had no idea that I would face another situation a week later in which my heart would be shredded in the attempt to seek approval from others. Sometimes we don't see what is coming - but God does. He knew that I would need to have a fresh reminder of what actually matters so that I could walk through the next week without completely falling apart.
Oh how I love Him, my Father God!
There is such confidence and hope and joy when we understand and live by the truth of His word. How awesome that we can truly be unconcerned with the opinions of others and totally consumed with the perspective of our Savior. There is one man - one Spirit - one God whose opinion actually matters.
If we take Galatians 1:10 at its word, then I would go so far as to say that it is impossible to serve Christ and seek approval from others. And lets get one thing straight here: this verse is referring to any kind of approval outside of God's approval. There is no distinction here between approval from ungodly or worldy people and approval from brothers and sisters in Christ. I can be no more consumed with the opinions of other Christians than I can with people whose beliefs are completely opposed to mine.
I want to be a servant of Christ. I want to honor Him with every moment and every breath. I am daily praying that I would continue to understand the freedom that I have so intensely tasted and to then carry that freedom to every dark place in my heart in every difficult situation I face.
Are you consumed with what others think of you? Let me assure you that when you get to heaven and stand before Christ you will not hear this: "Well, I don't know honey. I mean, Erin Fisher thought you were pretty awesome, but this girl Betty thought you were kinda lame. I just don't know if I want to associate with someone lame, you know?"
The heart of Christ is pure and unblemished, and when we seek His approval we are safe and free to live the lives that we were called to live. We will experience life to the fullest and joy unparalleled.
Are you now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or are you trying to please men? If you are still trying to please men, you cannot be a servant of Christ.
I can promise you something wonderful, too. As you work to seek the approval of Christ and live for Him alone you will soon understand something amazing about the "Jesus stamp of approval."
You already have it. . . just as you are.
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