“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. I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin… But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.” (Galatians 1:10–11, 15–17, NIV)
The hardest thing about being a Christian is living for the One who brought you salvation. I mention this because, when you make a declaration of faith, it can feel as though it becomes almost every Christian’s business to tell you what they think you should or should not do. Remember, I said almost. In many cases, they are rightly trying to help you understand what it means to live as a Christian. My concern, however, is that we all have different ways of practising our Christian faith, especially when it comes to applying the Word to our daily lives.
What I would like to say is this: we become followers of Christ because we have seen His life and understood the importance of His mission, which was to save us. It is a beautiful thing for every person to recognise the sacrifice that was made for them. However, that does not mean you need man’s approval to confirm that you are a Christian. Paul himself spoke openly about all he had done before he was converted by our Lord Jesus. He did not seek the apostles’ opinion to know whether he was qualified to be God’s servant. His actions spoke for themselves. Sometimes, as Christians, we fail to see that it is not our duty to create a list of dos and don’ts. God Himself has already given us guidance in the sixty-six books of Scripture. I do not mean that we cannot gently guide a brother or sister back into the Word, but we are not the judges of their character.
If your aim as a Christian is to seek the approval of people rather than the approval of the One who sent you, then, like Paul, I can only pray that God strengthens and redirects your heart. When God called me, before I even knew Him or understood how much He loved me, I heard His voice, but I did not recognise it. From a very young age, I tried not to live to please people. I disliked being used by others, being placed between people who had misunderstandings, and being expected to tell on others. I once came across a story of a young Christian man who had witnessed something a student had done. He did not report it, and when he was asked why, he said, “I was not enrolled in this university to tell on my friends. Besides, you did not ask me, so I had no obligation to tell you anything.” His boldness stayed with me. It reminded me that I did not have to follow the majority or do what everyone else considered acceptable. When I finally came to understand the full implications of what it means to be saved, I decided to run to the source itself, which is the Bible. The more time I spent in God’s presence and in His Word, the more He gave me wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. When I walk down the street and see the pain on the faces of those I pass, I pray for them because they may not yet know how much Jesus loves them.
What I am emphasising here is that your Bible is the best teacher you will ever have. Your fellow Christians may be experienced and may have much advice to give, but they should not be your only source of knowledge. You have eyes, a mind, and hands that God gave you. Read your Bible and seek direction on how to live your life. God has given you all the material you need for your mission. Like Paul, I will listen to my brothers and sisters, but the voice inside me, which I know is from the Holy Spirit, shall be my counsellor and intercessor. My decisions are not made by people, and I do not have to please people to know that I am accepted. I do not need a vision that others approve of, or one that earns enough money for everyone to benefit. My mission is not for man’s approval, but for God’s approval, and for the joy and peace that come from following Him. I would like to encourage each and every one of you to pursue a vision and mission that do not depend on people’s approval, but on what God has placed on your heart. Not everyone will go with you, and that is okay. When Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me,” He did not say, “Carry a truckload of other people’s opinions as well.” He called us to put everything else behind us and follow Him. Please do not misunderstand me: God used prophets to speak to His people, and it is good to listen to the wisdom around you. But wisdom should lead you closer to God, not replace His voice. You do not need everyone’s approval to obey what God has called you to do. Not everyone will understand it, and not everyone will support it. Still, all the answers you need lie with the One who called you in the first place. When you take the time to sit with Him, instead of rushing from one appointment to another, you will begin to understand the letters He has written to your heart. Live from that place. Seek His approval first. Follow His voice with courage, and let your life become the evidence of the One who sent you.
Goody'Nglish 