ApprovedSample

Looking for approval in the wrong places isn’t a new problem. People all throughout the Bible struggled with caring more about what people thought of them than what God did. As a matter of fact, God created us from the beginning with an appetite for approval that only He can fill.

For example, Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, ended up denying Jesus three times because he cared more about what people would think of him for being a disciple of Jesus than he did about getting to be a disciple of Jesus. Moses almost missed his calling because he was so afraid of what people would think of his public speaking. And in today’s Scripture, we’ll see that some Jewish leaders believed in Jesus but wouldn’t admit it because they were afraid of what others would think of their beliefs. 

So, the real question we have to start asking ourselves is: Do I care more about what people think of me than what God knows about me? 

Here’s the thing. Trying to please people is a dangerous trap. You’ll never please everyone. But, when we choose to accept what God says about us—that we are His masterpiece, that we are His kid, that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by His own hands—we’re free to stop trying to gain temporary approval from people and to start enjoying the permanent identity we have in Christ. 

Challenge: Identify who, or what, you’ve been seeking approval from. Write down three ways you can start finding it from God instead. 

Key Scripture: Luke 22:54-62, Exodus 4:10-17, John 12:40-45, Proverbs 29:25