God's Approval

God's Approval
August 17, 2009
Galatians 1:10 "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.

Scripture is clear that it is more important to God that you are interested in pleasing Him and not interested in pleasing any man. In fact, God does not care about any approval you might have from others, as having their approval is quite often diametrically opposed to having the approval of God. Naturally, if you have the approval of God, you might have approval from some, but it will never be the other way around. Scripture says you cannot serve two masters; therefore it is critical that you serve God alone, and let everything else happen as it may. It is of the utmost importance that you strive to have God's approval.

You may think this is easier said than done, but there is actually a simple method that can be applied in order to have God's approval. Consider living a life of integrity, as God created everything to have integrity. Integrity is defined as doing the right thing, at all times, even when no one else is looking. The key to having approval with God is living an integral life, or living a life of integrity, integrity to God's Word. It's that easy. All you have to do, no matter what the situation, no matter what the subject matter, is apply God's Word to all your thoughts, motives, and actions. More simply put, do what is right in God's eyes, in every circumstance, no matter what people may think and no matter what the consequences. This is akin to the phrase, "what would Jesus do?" In doing this you will naturally have God's approval.

The most perfect example of this is Jesus Christ. He set out to do His father's business; at the beginning of Christ's ministry, the Heavens opened up and God's voice thundered in the sky saying, "You are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." Jesus gained God's approval, because He lived a life of integrity according to God's Word. Sure, there were many men who did not approve of Christ, but it was far more important to Jesus that He had God's approval in any and every circumstance, even if it meant death on the cross.

If you carry this over into your own life, there are some amazing benefits to having the approval of God as opposed to the approval of man. Consider the fact that you cannot have God's favor unless you have God's approval. And you cannot have God's blessing, without His favor. Simply stated, if you want the blessing of God, you must first show yourself approved. This means, in all things, God's blessing cannot be poured out in your life, unless you are living a life of Christian integrity.

And the best benefit of God's favor is receiving the desires of your heart. God says that if you delight yourself in Him (live your life so that you have God's approval) He will give you the desires of your heart. I suggest doing the right thing in the Lord's eyes; He knows what desires in your life still need fulfilled.

1. Who's approval have you been seeking?
2. How can you live a life approved by God?
3. How can you continually live a life of Christian integrity?

Add. Scriptures for Study: Ps 37:4, Mk 1:11, Luke 16:13, John 6:27, 2 Cor 10:18, 1 Thess 2:4, 2 Tim 2:15