Proverbs 5:21 For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths.
In this world where pseudo fame and celebrity-statist is persued at a Herculean pace, many people are preoccupied with building and creating a personal brand for the world to buy into. It has become easy to lose sight of what is truly important. Gal. 1:10 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.
If we are in Christ, then our lives are lived for the audience of one. Our Heavenly Father, is the only one we must satisfy. If we are living in the obedience of God’s will through faith, then we are living in reality. Even though it feels good to have the approval of others, we will not need it, because we have God’s acceptance and approval working in our soul.
The self-absorption and antics that people participate in, to give the masses the impression that they’ve got it all together, have created many ills and dysphorias within people’s lives. Sadness, depression, and hyper-anxiety have become the result of this false existence. The healing and recovery that will be needed to restore these people from the effects of these self-inflicted emotional wounds can take a long time. If the Lord is not involved in the restoration of these hurting souls, the healing can take longer.
Most of the time, these people, are looking for some sort of affirmation to give relevance to their existence. Therefore, they spend much of their time auditioning for acceptance by everyone – except for the one who matters – God. When people perform for an audience of tens or thousands to be validated as a somebody, they will soon find out that they cannot please everybody. However, when we live our life for the audience of God, then through His Son Jesus, we can please Him by faith and be fulfilled.
Perhaps, if we stopped and realize that God is watching our lives and cheering us along, we would be more discerning about our life choices. The Apostle Paul was continually living his life for the audience of one. Phil. 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. “To live is Christ,” was Paul’s main expression from his heart. The Apostle Paul was focused on fulfilling God’s will in his life.
Paul had seen the vain value of his personal religious brand, which he showcased for the approval of the priests of his day. Once he had accepted the Lord Jesus, as his saviour, Paul could see the importance of living his life for the audience of one. Phil. 3:8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ.
Saints, this is the goal of our hearts. We continually press toward the high calling that the Lord has placed on our lives. We live to please our Heavenly Father, who is the only infinite being whose love and judgment matters. Isa. 43:11 I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no other Savior. When we all take our final bow, may our eyes be on Him who first loved us. Amen!
It is true. We can get caught up in winning others' approval and lose sight of the comfort of God's perfect acceptance. I know I've done this. Good reminder today!