Yesterday, I was getting ready for work and very suddenly heard “The church is more focused on fear tied to the opinion of man than on the opinion of God.”
And I stopped what I was doing.
This week has been different than my usual, if I’m honest. I’ve had so many things on my mind related to work that it’s been a constant loop in my brain. And at the point of my morning when I would normally be spending time with the Lord yesterday morning, instead I was quietly picking apart work scenarios.
Until the Lord interrupted me.
Immediately, I began to pick this concept apart instead.
We, as Christians, have gotten to a place where we are more entranced in what others say/think than we are for if these same actions are pleasing to the heart of our Father. If you read that sentence and thought “really? I don’t know if that’s true,” do any of these resonate with things you’ve thought recently?
- Did they like my prayer/post/song/gift/etc?
- Does that sound okay? I don’t want to offend someone.
- Will people relate to this?
- Are people going to think I’m crazy?
We are sometimes trapped in holding ourselves to a standard that society tells us should be upheld instead of clinging to the principles provided to us in the Word of God.
I’m not talking about whether or not we’re participating in what some might consider “blatant sin.” I’m outlining the little things (which are actually big things).
– What is our heart posture throughout the day?
– What thoughts are we entertaining?
– What are we using our leisure time for?
– Where is our treasure?
Some friends and I have been talking about how there have felt like big shifts lately. Drawing us back to simpler things. A return to our “first love” without the gimmick or elaborate add ons.
A heart after his own heart.
Focusing on moving in a way that furthers the Kingdom.
Loving others. TRULY.
Worshipping from our hearts for who HE IS and not for WHAT HE PROVIDES.
All for HIS glory and none of our own.
None of those things happen because we have likes on a social media post, or because sister Sally tells us we did a good job, or because our names are praised for how “good” we are.
“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”
Romans 7:18 ESV
We can’t live our lives held to a standard the world upholds. Just because so-and-so does it or says it’s okay, doesn’t mean it is.
Eternity isn’t measured by approval of anyone around us. It’s measured by the standard of the Lord.
We’ve lost our zeal.
We’ve lost our zest.
We’ve lost our saltiness.
We may feel the approval or disapproval of man quicker in our day-to-day, but I assure you it isn’t lasting.
Approval of the crowd was never the point.
We have to seek the heart of God. We have to allow him to rekindle our spark. To restore our zest so we can provide flavor into the world around us.
More than anything else, we need to seek HIS approval.
“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.”
Proverbs 29:25-26 ESV
Not in a way that we throw care to the wind and use “only God can judge me” as an excuse to forget that love encompasses the two greatest commandments we’ve been given.
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:37-40 ESV
No, we need to align our hearts to HIS heart so that as we interact with others, we remember his commandments and act accordingly. We need to remember it isn’t the approval or disapproval of others we will be accountable for, but our own actions.
We need to spend time in the secret place allowing ourselves to be pruned and developed. Chastised when we need it.
We need to ensure we’re approaching chastisement with repentant hearts and above all ensure the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts are pleasing to the Lord.
We can’t live in fear of lack of approval of man.
We must live in holy reverence of being found lacking of God’s approval.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
Proverbs 9:10 ESV
❤️
Just Between Me & Jesus 