My prayer for you for today is that you will strive to
please God and not people, in Jesus Name.
Galatians
1:10
Obviously,
I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people
were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant.
For da people. Oh boy, here we go. The person’s names and
identities in this story are kept secret for their protection…
It was a normal day just like, well, the other day. James
was invited for an evening with his friends. This was a monthly ritual when the
buds go out for a drink. When he arrived, he was a little late so the party was
well on its way. He had a drink and started having fun laughing and joking with
his good old friends. All was fine except that these parties never stop. This particular
evening the drinks were streaming in and peer pressure increased as with each drink
they ordered there was some event that needed a toast, so it just got worse.
Finally, and yes always one for the road, James left staggering to his car
struggling to open it. He drove off nearly missing another car on his way out
of the parking lot. James drove off quite late, but James never got home…
In the world of people pleasing and changing your
personality to be accepted and to rise in a group, I have ample experience. The
thing is not the mistakes you make, but how easily you slip deeper into a world
where you lose your identity in Jesus. You place Him in the background, in fact
you hide Him from those people so that the picture you reflect is one of evil. You
become your own worst enemy and what is even worse is that you try and deceive
God, by being one person at home and another when you are among “friends”. Jesus
made it clear that He despises a mild Christian, you are either for Him or
against Him, but never in-between.
I sometimes wish that I can give you my eyes, so that you
could see the world I saw. So that you can see the world I see today. There has
been so many times where I wished I knew back then, what I know now. I am so
grateful that God pulled me out of the mess I was in and into a new life with
Him. Life is precious, but more precious is the decisions we make each moment,
our thoughts, our words and our mistakes.
Don’t live to please this world, but live to please God. The
prize you will receive is so much more than this world can ever promise or even
produce. God is eagerly waiting to journey with you, He wants to be your best
friend, the one you talk to when the walls want to crumble. Seek Him in every
moment in every day.
I
waited patiently for the LORD to help me,
and He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what He has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the LORD.
Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.
You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—
you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
Then I said, "Look, I have come.
As is written about me in the Scriptures:
I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your instructions are written on my heart."
and He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what He has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the LORD.
Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.
You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—
you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
Then I said, "Look, I have come.
As is written about me in the Scriptures:
I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your instructions are written on my heart."
(Psalm
40:1-8)
Have a great day, friend of Jesus.
Cheers.
