Reach • Devotion 6

Approval
Jill Osmon

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

Approval, we all seek it. Some of us find it in our families, some in our work, others in relationships, and I think most of us try to find it in the world in general. Yet it remains elusive to so many of us, creating a desire that is left unmet in our lives.

Paul is speaking of approval in Galatians 1:10, saying, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Paul is speaking to a group of people who seem to have lost their focus on what the Gospel really is, seeking to find approval in man instead of God.

I should not be, but I am always quite amazed when I read the Bible how rich and on point it is in today’s world it is. Can you picture our world, our culture today when you read this? So many thoughts and opinions on what the Gospel is, and we find a church here in Galatians that seems to have been refocused on a "gospel" more palliative to the world so that they can find and gain approval from man.

Approval is generally defined as the belief that someone or something is good or acceptable. How easy is it for us to seek out someone or something that says we are good? However, the world sees good not as God sees good, but for what it can gain or what it can affirm in them that feels and looks good. We live in a world that looks at the Gospel not as good but destructive because it shines the light on our sin and depravity, something that does not feel like approval but condemnation. Yes, it will be condemnation if you do not accept it, but if you choose to give your life to God, the approval from God is so much more. Approval from God is finally finding the freedom and peace that we all seek. Our approval from God is found through Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection. We simply have to accept the Good News.

Approval from man is fleeting and temporary, it may feel good at that moment but what is left? It is a life that feels like it is missing something, something so basic yet so big you cannot survive without it. We try and fill it with all the world offers and yet when we turn to Jesus for our approval, it is like the sun shining on your face, refreshing and good.

So the question I have for you today is, "Whose approval do you seek?”