Am I now seeking human approval or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:10 (NRSVue)
Have you ever known a “people pleaser”? Someone who craves acceptance so much that they ignore or suppress their feelings. It's easy to fall into this trap, especially at work, where the desire to please the boss can lead you to go along without question, even when you know the direction may not succeed. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be considerate of others, but we must balance kindness with delivering the message we genuinely want to convey.
Paul applies this idea to the message of witnessing. In sharing the gospel, God’s love should be the focus of our testimony. At the same time, we should not omit or soften what is in the Bible—the lessons within its pages are there for a reason. It begins in the Garden when Adam and Eve are enticed by temptation and choose wrongly. Humankind has been sinning ever since. But that is only part of the story; God was not content with abandoning us in that state of separation. He first called out a people, Israel, and later came to earth in human form for all people.
Sometimes, when sharing the gospel, we might be tempted to be “people pleasers” and say sin is okay. Just because it's our natural state doesn’t mean it’s OK. This does not mean we should be “hellfire and brimstone” witnesses. Instead, our emphasis should be on God’s love, the gift of Jesus Christ, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. We are all sinners—those who have accepted Christ are sinners in recovery—redeemed by his grace.
As children of the Father, we should seek only His approval. We should not be “people pleasers,” yet we must reflect compassion, kindness, and respect. How can we achieve this balance in our witness? We pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us. (Luke 12:11-12)The Spirit gives us the words to be faithful to God’s love and acceptance while not shunning sin and the need for repentance. By seeking God’s approval and relying on the Holy Spirit, we can witness authentically and compassionately.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your unwavering love and grace. Help us to seek Your approval above all else and to witness Your truth with compassion and respect. Grant us the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit to speak faithfully and lovingly about Your message. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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