THURSDAY: LIVING FROM APPROVAL, NOT FOR IT
KEY PASSAGE
“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.”
DEVOTIONAL
The most subtle, yet intoxicating, trap we find ourselves in is the pursuit of approval. Whether we like it or not, we are vulnerable to the opinions and perspectives of other people. If we are not careful and are not secure in our identity, we can allow those things to shape what we believe about our worth.
Everywhere we look there is always something more to obtain. More applause, likes, affirmation, or validation to receive from people, often, at the expense of our performance. In fact, sometimes we can even find ourselves becoming more relaxed in our convictions–and the truth we claim–in order to gain approval from others.
Yet, the Gospel message is quite clear on this point: we don’t live for approval; in Christ, we live from approval.
Paul understood that you cannot simultaneously be mastered by people’s opinions while also being surrendered to God’s purpose. Approval does not get developed; in Christ, approval has been deposited. Jesus died and rose again so that we can be found as sons and daughters of God. Not by merit, but by a miracle. In Christ, our identity is secure, and it is not contingent on the opinions of others.
CHALLENGE
SEE - Take notice of times where you feel anxious about other people’s opinions of you.
SAY - In those moments, ask yourself: “does this mean more to me than God’s approval of me?”
SURRENDER - Pray simply: “God, I choose to be reminded of who I am in you: Called, Chosen, Approved, Enough, Loved Fully. There is nothing that can change that, certainly not the opinions or approval of others.”