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. Galatians 1:10
I only had a few experiences performing in front of an audience growing up, but even with that, I know enough to know that pre-show nerves can be a reality. Growing up, my parents always reminded me that they were not proud of me because of how I performed. They were proud of me because I was me. Because of this, knowing they were in the audience helped calm my nerves and remind me that I did not have to worry about the rest of the audience. I just focused on my parents because I knew they would be proud.
Knowing who is in the audience makes all of the difference. The same is true in our faith. When we live and believe that we are performing for God, an audience of One, we can have hope, joy, peace, and confidence in Him throughout all of the things He calls us to do.
The apostle Paul understood that he was called to serve God alone. He wrote about this understanding in Galatians 1:10, where he said, “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.” Paul made it clear by his words and actions that he was not living for the approval of people. No, he was living to please God. This knowledge informed every decision and step that he took. He was never concerned about what others thought, only Christ. Because of this, he spoke the truth boldly; he shared his faith without wavering. He lived a life that honored God.
In our world, people-pleasing is tempting. With so many people and distractions around us, it can be easy to live solely for the approval of everyone around us. We can become so caught up in what others think that we forget that only one person’s approval really matters, and that is God’s. When we live solely for Him, we can have the courage and boldness to take steps and make decisions aligned with His kingdom and will for our lives. Let’s put our eyes solely on Him, looking only to Him, “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2, NIV). Let’s live our lives for an audience of One! Your Father is sitting out there cheering you on!
What do you think it means that God is our primary audience? How does knowing that God is the one you are living for help you move forward in the life He has called you to live? What is one thing you can do today with boldness and confidence, knowing you are living for God, not for men?
Read Galatians 1:1-10(NLT)
This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.
All the brothers and sisters here join me in sending this letter to the churches of Galatia.
May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
There Is Only One Good NewsI am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.
Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.
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.
©2024 Sagebrush Church
