“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

Do you live for the approval of man or from the grace of Jesus?

Desiring approval is not what Scripture condemns; it is seeking it from the wrong source. When we seek approval from those around us it will always end in exhaustion and utter disappointment. If you desire true satisfaction, lasting joy, and abundant peace, your desire for approval must be found in God alone. The good news is that those of us who have believed in Christ’s death and resurrection for the forgiveness of our sins already possess His approval. In Him, we are transformed into new creations, and His righteousness is laid upon us. We can have abundant joy in the fact that we have obtained His righteousness. When you believe in Jesus, He certainly forgives your sin, but he doesn’t end there. He also grants you His righteousness, status, and satisfaction.

Living a life for the approval of man leads to inauthentic life where we try to manage the perceptions of others. We get so caught up in the facade that the person we are trying to prove we are to others is not who we become. Our pursuits end in emptiness when we realize the person we think everyone is impressed by isn’t even us. Sooner than later, no one knows us, and any perceived gain from human approval has been utterly lost. The Gospel, on the other hand, demands authenticity and leads to great freedom. Freedom to be real, genuine, and authentic, all of which lead to abundant peace and joy. Seeking the approval of the created only results in exhaustion, disappointment, and endless striving. Basking in the approval of Christ results in abundant life.

Love God and Love others because the Creator of the ENTIRE universe loves you, and He calls you friend. Bask in the goodness of that today. That Jesus calls YOU, friend! Not because you deserve it or even because one day, you will, but because He chose to love you and give His life for you. Surrender your life to Him, and let Him change you into who you were first created to be and who His word calls you to be. Christ’s love for you will change you, it is offered to us as we are, but it doesn’t allow us to remain as we are.

We must remind ourselves daily that our salvation is a free gift. Our actions and good works should flow from a heart that is filled with gratitude for what God has done for us, not as an attempt to earn His or others' favor. May our love for others and pursuit of holiness be a reflection of the love that we have already received from Him.

Seek Christ, find Him, abide in Him, and grow in Him.