How can we prioritize God's approval in our daily decisions? The Warning in Luke 11:43 “Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.” Jesus exposes a heart that craves applause. When our choices flow from that craving, we drift from the Lord’s smile. So how do we keep His approval front-and-center? Why God’s Approval Matters • He alone sees motives (1 Samuel 16:7). • His verdict is eternal—human praise fades (1 Peter 1:24–25). • Pleasing Him brings rest; pleasing people breeds anxiety (Proverbs 29:25). Signs We’re Slipping Into “Pharisee Mode” • Checking who notices our service before we decide to serve. • Posting or talking about good deeds to harvest compliments. • Feeling slighted when not given the “chief seat,” title, or credit. • Basing decisions on “How will this look?” instead of “Will this honor Christ?” Practical Ways to Prioritize God’s Approval 1. Begin each day by reaffirming whose opinion counts. Say aloud: “Father, my aim today is to please You” (2 Corinthians 5:9). 2. Filter choices through Colossians 3:23-24: • “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men… It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” 3. Practice hidden obedience: • Give anonymously (Matthew 6:3-4). • Serve where no one but God sees (Matthew 6:6). 4. Invite the Spirit to expose mixed motives (Psalm 139:23-24). 5. Celebrate others’ recognition without envying it (Romans 12:15). 6. Anchor identity in Christ, not in roles or likes (Ephesians 1:3-6). 7. When criticized unfairly, remember 1 Peter 2:23—entrust yourself “to Him who judges justly.” 8. When praised, instantly redirect the glory to God (Psalm 115:1). A quiet “Thank You, Lord” keeps the heart humble. Scriptures to Memorize & Meditate On • Galatians 1:10—“Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? … If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” • 1 Thessalonians 2:4—“We speak not to please men, but God, who tests our hearts.” • John 12:42-43—Many leaders believed, “Yet because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him … for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.” Living It Out Today • Choose one ordinary task—answering email, folding laundry, finishing a report—and consciously perform it “for the Lord, not for men.” • Replace the question “Will people like this decision?” with “Will this delight my Father?” • End the day with a simple review: “Lord, where did I seek Your approval? Where did I chase human applause? Grow me.” Closing Encouragement Chasing human applause is exhausting; living for God’s smile is freeing. As we treasure His approval above all, our daily decisions align with His will, our worship deepens, and our lives quietly point others to the only praise that lasts forever. |
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