Galatians 1:10-12
Observation:
The repeated words are: humans/people, approval. The key words are: gospel, revelation.
Interpretation:
Paul is saying that he doesn't preach the gospel to gain approval from humans, nor did he receive the gospel from any human source. He makes it clear that the one that he is trying to please is God and that the source of revelation for the gospel he preaches is Jesus Christ.
Application:
The key question from this passage for me is the first one that Paul asks: "Am I now trying to win human approval or God's approval? If I am honest, much of what I do is for the approval of people. I love the affirmations and applause of people. I am addicted to their praise. I depserately want to be free from what people think, I desperately want to "perform" only for God. The sick think is that I project human relationships onto God: in this world you are valued for what you do. If you perform well, you get praise and people value and like you. In God's view, I know that I m valued for who I am in and because of Christ. But I wil still live like I have to perform i order to receive God's approval. The message of the gospel is that there is nothing I could do to make God love me but he loves me anyway. I know this in my head; God, pleas mak ei treal in my heart and life.
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2 comments:
Amen, so often in ministry I find myself seeking the approval of the church, the people and even the youth, instaed of working for God and leaving things in his hands. It is funny how we are like you say addicted to others applause.
Thank God that we do not have to do anything to earn his love, and that he values us and loves us just as we are.
Sweet! That's just what I talked about last night with my sr. high. Grace is God's free (he gives it because he chooses to) and undeserved (I can't earn it) favour to and love for humans.
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