Seek God's Approval

Galatians 1:10 “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please 
people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” ~NRSV

One of our biggest obstacles in maintaining obedience is our desire to hold onto how other people may feel about us. How we look to others often takes over the feelings or concern toward how we look in God’s eyes. Think about it, when we get into a confrontation with someone, (be it verbal or physical), we don’t want to appear weak to them or others around us. We automatically forget about what God would want us to do in that same situation and take matters in our own hands.

Sometimes in our faith, we shy away from talking about Jesus or what God has done in our lives, because others may make fun of what we believe. Especially when their faith is not as strong. We live our lives focused on ‘man’s’ view of us when that point of view is not important at all. 

Often we fail to think about God’s approval because we cannot see Him. So in life, what we ‘see’ always takes priority over what we ‘don’t see’. In other words, the reality of the world tries to take away our belief by stepping in and attempting to separate us from God. Even though our trials may be similar, our endurance through those trails are unique. But our uniqueness is not experienced when we try and go through our trials without God. 

Those of us who go through our trials without God experience exposure to the world and its pressure. We blame, we argue, we fight, and we allow other’s perspectives to dictate our actions. But  when we go through our trials with God, we allow Him to teach us how to use those unique gifts He’s blessed us with. The unique gifts that He created in us to endure and become stronger in our trials. We no longer see the distractions of the world and its people because we are so focused on listening to God and satisfying Him as our Teacher. With God all things are possible because He created everything we need to succeed in this world.

When we switch our focus off people and what they think about us, and turn on our focus in pleasing God, our lives become a whole lot better. He has shown us His mercy in spite of what we have done. That kind of love deserves all of our attention. To be the best servants of Christ we must seek God’s approval alone. And let His light shine in us so that others will only see Him. And when they see Him, they will ‘seek’ Him and have the desire to serve Him as well.

May God continue to bless and keep you under His umbrella of love and protection in Jesus’ name.

Amen