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Devotional

Finding Self-Worth in the Approval of God

by MANDY POST GENERAL Identity in Christ
Finding Self-Worth in the Approval of God
“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”
Galatians 1:10

Our church we helped start when we moved overseas had a business meeting recently to discuss working towards being able to pay a pastor. Part of the discussion included giving my husband, the pastor, a very small stipend to help with our support. We were absent from this part of the meeting to allow the members full freedom of discussion, and when it came to a vote, a few voted against it. Even though it was a few, I was hurt. I questioned our ministry and felt unappreciated. I wondered what we had done to merit their disapproval.


As global workers, our lives are often scrutinized from many different angles, and we find ourselves weighing people’s opinions and views of us as we live and minister. We think about our supporters and how they would measure our success. We want our host culture to approve of the way we adapt to their lifestyles. We hope our teammates like us and think we are good at what we do. Our value and worth suddenly become defined by the approval of others.


“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”
Galatians 1:10


Paul reminds us in Galatians that our goal and priority in life is to seek God’s approval. We should tune our hearts to His purposes because we are his masterpieces created to do the good things he planned for us (Ephesians 2:10). Living for God will not always please other people. We can be sure that our choices might actually disappoint people around us, but this should not cause us to despair. Our value and worth are found in the payment of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. We should run to our Father and let His words pour over our hearts and minds assuring us of his approval. After all, it is his work we have been called to do (1 Thessalonians 2:4).


“The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
Psalm 118:6


Closing Prayer
I praise you, Father, for loving me so much that you sent your Son to die for me. Help me, Holy Spirit, to feel this love and cling to it over and above what others think of me. Amen.
Question for Reflection

Does the approval from another affect the way you value your ministry or even your worth as a person? Whose approval affects you the most: a coworker, the people to whom you minister, your supporters, a parent or other family member? What can you do to remind yourself of your value and worth as a child of God?

Comments
Mandy Post
September 30, 2020

I have struggled with allowing others’ opinions of me to affect the way I feel, as I shared in the story above. One of the things I’ve done is put a Bible verse on my phone reminding me that God’s approval is better than man’s. I pour over Bible verses encouraging me that I am a child of God (John 1:12), chosen by Him (Ephesians 1:4-5), made righteous through Christ (Romans 3:24), and created anew in him (2 Corinthians 5:17). Then I pray. I ask the Spirit to convict me of any ways I might not be serving Christ well. Maybe there is truth to what others’ have said. Lastly, I pray for strength to continue working as for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23) but for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).