What Does the Bible Say About Pleasing People?

Sometimes you have to choose who to please. You might please one person and in doing so offend another. Sometimes the bigger question is if we choose to please some people will we offend God?

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10, NIV.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND
There was a time before he received the calling to Christ when the Apostle Paul persecuted the church and in doing so he was pleasing men who highly esteemed his zeal. Upon his conversion Paul turned from the former ways and lived a new life that his society scorned. He even paid the price of martyrdom for his new faith.

APPROVAL
We want approval. It is an honest need. We want others to think well of us, it goes back to childhood where we want our parents to be pleased with us. For a child approval is nice, it makes him feel good and helps him mature. In an adult it is different. We should able to act independently of other's approval. Yet it is a legitimate desire; for to an adult approval is a measure of inclusion, acceptance, community and belonging. These are healthy things.

TRYING TO WIN
Paul was not against man's approval. He just didn't go out of his way for it. He responded to Jesus and if it meant he lost the approval of men it was worth it. If his service to God won the approval of men that was a bonus but the point of his life was something else.

A SERVANT OF CHRIST.
Paul gave up status and lost the favor of his countrymen to follow Christ. For him it was a choice that was no choice because the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus so far outweighed the worth of man's esteem*. Paul gave up ambition to please men and chose to be a servant of Christ.

We can't be both one who seeks to win the favor of men and of God. If we are living to please men we can't be a servant of Christ. We must choose either the fickle favor of people or the eternal esteem of Christ.

* See also Philippians 3:8

To learn more about coming to Christ see my other post, follow this link: Click Here.

(c)Adron Dozat

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What Does It Mean To Be God's People?

What does it mean that we are God's people? We know it is something good but just what is it?

"Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:3, NIV*.

This Bible verse starts with the declaration that The Lord is God; as a reminder that everything begins with him, not us. Our identity is not in what we own or have achieved or who we are but our true identity is in who our God is.

WE HAVE A CREATOR

God created us on purpose. What we are, what we look like, our talents, and gifts were given by God. We might say, "I wish I wasn't like this or that," but instead, we should be thankful.  If we have a weakness or a flaw, we know God has a purpose for it.  We are so often caught up in the outside looks, and all the external: but God is working on the internal.

WE BELONG

We are his. Because of this verse, you can say, "I know who and what I am. I do not need to go on some quest to find myself." Our lives become an expression of being found in Jesus.  We belong- this is better than a club, or family, society, gang, or any group.

WE HAVE PEOPLE
God did not make us to be alone.  We belong to a society, to a people who are his, we not only belong but we each have a purpose in God's plan to be a blessing to his people. God made us each with gifts to share with His people wherever they are. We each need to be a blessing to his people; we diminish ourselves and others when we draw away from the community of faith.

WE ARE CARED FOR

"We are the sheep of his pasture." Sheep are very dependent. Sheep lack fangs and claws, they are not built for speed, and "Baaa" is no "Roar!" Sheep live and thrive because the shepherd takes care of them; he protects, nurtures, and provides for them. Our God is the Good Shepherd- He cares for us and provides.

We each have a place; we are in his pasture. It is like we are doubly loved and cared for. Who can imagine what a wonderful pasture the Lord has for his sheep? We not only have a Creator, and an identity and a purpose we also have a place-His pasture. We have a place in the heart of God. You can say, "I am in his hands."

TO KNOW THE LORD
Knowing someone is to be involved in a relationship and no relationship ever plateaus, all relationships must grow or wither. To know the Lord means you must continue to grow in knowledge.

(c)Adron Dozat 12/23/12

The Secret Jesus, Mark 7:24. NIV.

Jesus comes into our lives to live there, but when he comes in can we hide him in a closet?

“Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence a secret.” Mark 7:24, NIV.

Jesus was tired after ministering to the multitudes and needed rest. He came to a disciple’s house where he hoped to take a well deserved personal Sabbath. However, he couldn't hide from those looking for Him, and soon the house is a target of people with needs and problems.

If you trust Jesus as your Savior some things begin to happen, he will come in and be felt. He starts work in your life and is committed to it until the very end. You may not notice it but others will. You can’t keep Jesus hidden in a little part of your life and go on like business as usual. His being there is going to draw attention, you can’t be a secret disciple for long. People are hungry for what Jesus offers; love, peace, forgiveness, salvation acceptance with God and community, and if you have Jesus then people are going to see these things in you.

The job of His Spirit is to reveal Him to the world and the Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus is in us to those around us. People are going to comment when they recognize that Jesus is living with you. Perhaps they are going to compliment you on a good deed or your changed thoughtful character. When the fruit of the spirit such as love, joy, peace etc, begins to grow they will see it and wonder.

Jesus paid a price to buy salvation for you, so is persecution too great a price for us to pay to have Jesus? Jesus brings peace to our hearts but also puts a sword in the hands of those who hate him. Following Jesus is risky, he was killed and the mindset of those who hate him is alive today and seeks to hurt Him still. To hide that Jesus has come into our lives is the same as denying Jesus, most devoted Christians consider denying the Lord worst than persecution.

One woman who came to the house where Jesus was staying was marvelously healed of a horrible illness. Could we have robbed others of healing and blessing by trying to hide our Jesus? Have our loved ones been struggling in the dark because we have kept the light of Jesus hidden?


Since he can’t or won’t be hidden let us boldly proclaim him.

(c) Adron 4/18/10

What is the Purpose of my Life?

This short post gives a reference point that is basic to understanding who you are and how you can have direction in life.

Who am I, and why am I here are questions that mankind has asked for generations, but who has an answer?

”I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for a man to direct his steps.  Correct me, Lord, but only with justice- not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.” Jeremiah 10:23-24.

If our lives are not our own then we are God’s, and as our Divine Maker, He can rightfully claim His ownership over us.  He is the creator and master of the universe and controls the events of our life.   Since we are His property He may do as He pleases with us.

NOT HIS OWN
If our lives are not our own we must consider the way we live life, and ask ourselves if it is in keeping with our Creator's will and what are the consequences of it?

DIRECT OUR STEPS
The Almighty may direct our steps, for He is in control in all areas.  We may be bent on one way but God may direct our steps toward another path.

As sovereign over all things, God can affect circumstances and set boundaries we can’t cross.  We may have our own ideas and try to direct our own steps but He overrules and points us to the way we should go. When we play god in our own lives we fail, but when we choose to allow him to direct our path then we will walk in the ways of peace and blessing, and we are bringing the wisdom and power of God into the counsel of our agenda.

CORRECT ME LORD
This is a good prayer for us all.  It is submissive to God since it calls Him Lord.  We often go astray and need Our Father set us right.  We know we are wrong to go our own way and that His way is good and best for us.

BUT ONLY
It is fearful to be corrected by The Almighty.  He is all-powerful and holy and in His holiness can blast us to ashes.  Jeremiah beseeches God to correct him, "only with justice," and hold back the wrath of sin's judgment.  We must be mindful of the many wrongs and sins that accompany our wandering ways.  We need The Lord to temper his "correction" with justice and mercy.

NOT IN ANGER
If God dealt with us as our sins deserve we would be without hope and would be in danger of his great wrath, but that this prayer is even in the Bible gives hope that we may pray such a humble prayer and find God's mercy, correction, and direction.

I KNOW
The prophet considered this fact that we belong to the Lord our Maker and that knowledge brought him to make a humble prayer of reverence and submission. May we also consider the fact that our Creator is our Owner and ask for His help to live as He wants us to. This will give us a purpose we would never have imagined otherwise.

If you want to find out more about coming to the God of mercy and finding eternal life free from the wrath of justice against sin visit my other blog: Click here.

© Adron 10/7/9