“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 KJV
A powerful, yet often overlooked verse…
Once upon a time, not so long ago, I used to care what people thought of me. I just wanted to be seen – to know that I was doing a good job. I wanted to know that I was relevant. I wanted to be remembered. I didn’t want to be forgotten. I had battled feelings of rejection and abandonment for so long. That the thoughts and approval of people mattered.
Imagine that…
People had the power to make me or break me.
Do you know anyone like that? I do. And it grieves me.
There are times when I encounter adults, parents, grandparents who, care what people think of them. They need, crave, desire the approval of people. Their service to the church or the homeless is merely done for the acknowledgment of people, never mind what God has to say.
I wrote a several weeks back about a Smooth Talker who tried to manipulate with flattering words and when that didn’t work, he swore at me. He continued to harass me and even included others to reach out and harass me. I broke my silence and let him know that his behavior was harassment and not of God. He proceeded to tell me that he was acting godly and told me that he prayed at night and served at his church.
Thing is, whatever we do, we should do it unto the Lord. Not adding it to our résumé to prove to others that we are good, godly, or seeking their approval.
Why gain the whole world and lose our souls?
I remember serving at the church – I wrote about it! And realizing that I was serving man more than God.
I pray that all we do is done to the glory of the Lord and not for the acknowledgement of man.
*Image courtesy of J.E.B. ☀️🤍🌺
On the Outside Looking In 