BIBLE 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.
(Galatians 1:10)
MEDITATION:
There are many outside influences that can affect our actions and attitudes.
Other people can do things that stir our emotions in many different ways.
Situations and circumstances can cause elation or discouragement.
Even our own internal desires can impact our action and attitudes.
For instance, some will make compromises
in order to fulfill their desire to be liked by others.
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul wanted them to know his priorities
had completely changed after he met, and gave his life to the Lord.
If the choice was between pleasing people
or pleasing the Lord, He would choose to please the Lord.
It doesn’t mean that he ignored or tried to offend others,
but if some disliked him and his commitment to serve,
he was not going to compromise his dedication to the Lord.
As a result of his new relationship with the Lord,
he discovered that Jesus wanted him to serve Him in a specific way.
Paul transitioned from being a persecutor of Christians,
to becoming a man dedicated to telling others about Jesus Christ.
For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely
I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. (Galatians 1:13)
That’s how much the Lord can impact us when we meet Him
and are genuinely grateful for the sacrifice He made for us.
There were obstacles for Paul to overcome,
but he was not going to be deterred from his assignment from the Lord.
As a new Christian, he could have excused himself as unqualified (but he didn’t).
Due to his reputation of persecuting Christians he could have used as an excuse,
“Preaching about Jesus will be unproductive because no one will listen to me
or trust me. It will take too long to overcome their skepticism.” (but he didn’t).
When others not only disliked him, but persecuted him for serving the Lord,
he could have given up and quit (but he didn’t)
Paul was “all in” when the Lord saved him.
He readily accepted his task from the Lord, because he realized
this was God’s plan for him, before he was even born.
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me
by His grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach
Him among the Gentiles…(Galatians 1:15-16)
ACTION:
How has the Lord affected the things you think, do, and say?
Have you made the transition of becoming a servant of the Lord?
Have your priorities changed and now pleasing Him
is far more important than pleasing, or being liked by, others?
How do you feel about God having specific plans for you before you were born?
Are there obstacles that you need to overcome in order to serve the Lord?
He may not have called you to become a pastor or a missionary in a foreign land,
but He wants all Christians to serve Him in some capacity.
Living a changed life under the control and guidance of God’s Spirit
is one way all believers can begin serving the Lord.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way
that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the
law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the salvation You have given me.
Show me how You want me to serve You and give me the courage
and determination to overcome the things that try to discourage me
from pleasing You. Protect me from allowing Satan to convince me
that my sins have made me unworthy to be one of Your disciples.
Help me to gladly and openly wear my faith, and to have a desire
to share with anyone, at any time how You have blessed me.”
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