Monday, January 7, 2013

Please People or Please God


Who are some people you are trying to please?
We are taught that to get ahead in this life we need to learn to focus on pleasing people-the never ending game begins by trying to meet our own needs and then we move to the needs of those around us. We try and meet our needs, the needs of friends, the needs of parents, and of course, all the needs of the kids. We try and meet the needs of our spouses, our bosses, and our co-workers. On top of that comes trying to meet the needs of our religious leaders, our church, and then at the root we try and meet the needs of God- we try to live up to some standard that makes us okay with our Holy God.  How is that working for you? 
  I find that if I forget my identity as Abba’s child-as the beloved, accepted child of God-I become enslaved to the approval or the disapproval of others instead of being who I am-a bond-servant of Christ.

That is what happened to the Apostle Paul as he was climbing the ladder of success-moving up in leadership in the Jewish religion of all places(what a better place than to be pursuing religion)-God stopped him cold-knocked him down-humbled him!    
 Galatians 1:10 Paul learned to stop and consider that in Christ, he is pleasing to God.
What are some ways God stops us when we are going our own way-when we are trying to please ourselves and other people?
Is God reminding you that you are acceptable and pleasing to Him?
Is it time to step aside and allow God to be God in your life and the lives of those around you?
 Rest in Him! It is amazing what God can accomplish without our help.