Today’s Scripture
Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.
Galatians 1:10 (NLT)
Big Idea
Live a life that pleases God, and you will discover your true identity, security, and significance.
Today’s Thought
Are you a people-pleaser?
We aren’t talking about a healthy desire to have peaceful friendships with other people. We’re talking about an unhealthy obsession to make choices and live certain ways to make other people like us more. Yes, it matters what other people think about us — but we don’t have to become captive to other people’s opinions.
As Paul tells us in Galatians 1:10, God’s approval is much more powerful than other people’s approval. Some of us are so easily tempted to build our lives on the opinions of others. We wear what they wear, we shop where they shop, we talk like they talk, and we think like they think.
That isn’t the ticket to becoming a world-class you. It’s the recipe for becoming a top-notch imitation.
By the way: It’s important to note that in this verse, Paul is NOT saying we can do anything to make God love us more than He already does. Paul is simply reminding us that from an eternal perspective, our relationship with God is what matters most.
If you build your life around trying to win approval or meet impossible expectations or attempting to earn God’s love, then you won’t be a “world- class you.” It won’t happen.
A “world-class you” is built on your commitments to knowing God, developing a lifestyle that points people to God, serving others in love, receiving and sharing forgiveness, absorbing and obeying the truths of the Bible and worshiping God in every area of life.
After all, the most attractive person in the world is the real you!
Prayer
God, I want to live a life that’s pleasing to You. When I feel drawn to certain choices or lifestyles or patterns because I’m trying to impress other people, help me change course and refocus on You. I know that I can’t earn Your love or forgiveness, but I want to honor You though my lifestyle, attitude, and interactions with other people. Amen.
God, I want to live a life that’s pleasing to You. When I feel drawn to certain choices or lifestyles or patterns because I’m trying to impress other people, help me change course and refocus on You. I know that I can’t earn Your love or forgiveness, but I want to honor You though my lifestyle, attitude, and interactions with other people. Amen.
i see myself as a "people-pleaser", now i realize, that's not what God wants from me - Ryan
ReplyDeleteNow that i think about it me and my friends are you can notice it in other people and in you if you know what to look for!-Elizabeth Calhoun
ReplyDeleteI just realized that I would be considered a "people-pleaser" and that's not what God wants me to be. I am praying that he'll help me change. :)- Jasmin
ReplyDeleteI think we all could be considered people pleaser, because at one point in each of our lives we have done things to please others to make them like us, but like jasmin said we need to pray for help to work on this- gabby :)
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