Good day dear friends.
Some time ago I asked prayer for Shanna Itz Rodriguez who had a tumor removed while awaiting the birth of twins, well tonight she delivered a boy and a girl, one weighing 3'12" and the other 3"13" born at 8:15 and 8:16 p.m. tonight. We thank the Lord for their birth and we pray for Shanna and babies to be well. I thank all of you who prayed for them.
Today's text comes from Galatians 1:10 Am I now seeking human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; 12 for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; 19 but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord's brother. 20 In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, 22 and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; 23 they only heard it said, "The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God because of me.
It is so easy to get caught up in trying to please people. For some if we can please the right people we believe we get something out of it. Others just for a smile or the right look of approval motivates their actions. No one could ever accuse Paul of being a people pleaser. He would have been fired long ago! Paul's desire was to serve and please God. And that, he said, started even when he was doing exactly what God didn't want him to do, namely the persecution of the Christian church. Paul's calling, as yours and mine, was to be a "servant of Christ." Paul reminds the believers at Galatia that his life was completely opposite of how they knew him now.him.
To travel well, we must travel with Christ and because of Him!
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for sharing Jesus with us. Let us be open to the leading of Christ in all that we do. May we be led by Him in all things. Our desire is to travel with and because of Jesus Christ. In His Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
