20-DAY CHALLENGE: LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (DAY-7)

20-DAY CHALLENGE: LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (Day-7)

PLEASING GOD IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR CHRISTIANS

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
which 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 someone 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 in such a way that pleasing Him
is far more important than pleasing, or being liked by, others?

How do you feel about God creating
specific plans for you, before you were even 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.”