"Call to me and I will answer you, and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. " Jeremiah 33:3

Friday, March 23, 2012

"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

Have you ever noticed how fickle most fans are? One minute they are so supportive, raving about the latest and greatest movie star or athlete or singer and then when they are thru with them or tired of them or bored with them they delight in watching their idols fall apart. Idols come cheap in North America and all over the world. Really they never even stand a chance, there is always someone waiting in the wings, waiting for them to fail so they can take their place. There will always be someone who is more beautiful, who can sing better, who can play better, someone who is just more talented, someone who is intelligent, when you are an idol, there is always someone looking to knock you off of your tenuous perch. What drives an idol? Easy, money, fame, power and most enticing of all the applause of men and women.

People today quickly admit to being people pleasers. You can even see it in young children, many try so hard to make their moms and dads love them or be proud of them. And sadly many live their whole lives trying to please someone, mate, peers, bosses, teammates or friends.

Jesus knows what is in mankind, He knows that we have that tendency to want to please others and He warns against it. He desires that we concern ourselves with pleasing God alone, the One who made us, is the One we are to serve and please. Pleasing people will hinder us from coming to God.

"Many people did believe in Him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn't admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God." John 12:42-43 NLT.

Many people of other faiths around the world believe in Jesus but fear of parents, other family members is keeping them silent. Some are fearful of being murdered, and others have already died for their faith.

Jesus warned us about doing good to be seen by men rather than God in Matthew 6:1 NLT; "Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven." The same verse in the MSG reads like this; "Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding."

We are to give our gifts in private, and our Father, who sees everything will reward us. The same way when we pray, go away be yourself, or shut yourself in a closet and pray to the Father and He will reward you. When we fast don't make it obvious to be seen by people to gain their admiration. Fast in private where only the Father sees and He will reward you.

When we do "good deeds" to be seen by others, God who knows our hearts, has warned us that the applause of man is the only reward we will get, because our Father wants no part of that charade. It's time to get real with ourselves, with others and most of all with God.

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