A Word for Our Arbor Family
“And He said to them, You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.'" Luke 16:15
The context of this verse really speaks to me. Jesus was talking to the Pharisees, men who cared a lot about appearances and about what others thought of them. They looked good on the outside, but Jesus reminded them that God sees something deeper; He sees the heart. This can be a challenge for some of us. If I'm honest, I like being appreciated. I like knowing that people are happy with me and that I've done a good job. Most of us do. There's nothing wrong with loving people and wanting to serve them well, but there is a difference between loving people and living for their approval. As I've been reading through Acts, I couldn't help but think about Festus. In Acts 25:9, he knew Paul had done nothing wrong, yet he still tried to please the Jewish leaders instead of simply doing what was right.
“But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, 'Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?” Acts 25:9
That verse made me stop and think. How many times do we make decisions based on keeping everyone happy? How often do we avoid difficult conversations, stay quiet, or compromise because we don't want to disappoint someone? The truth is, pleasing people can be exhausting because expectations are always changing. One day you're doing great, and the next day someone is unhappy. But God's standards don't change. He looks at our hearts, our motives, and our willingness to obey Him even when it's uncomfortable.
I'm learning that following Jesus means caring deeply for people while keeping God first. It means treating others with kindness and respect, but not allowing their approval to become more important than His.
As a husband, a father, and someone stepping into a new season of ministry, this is a lesson I want to hold on to. I won't always get everything right, but my prayer is that my desire to please God would always be greater than my desire to please people.
At the end of the day, the peace that comes from knowing you've honored the Lord is worth far more than the temporary approval of others.
May God help us to seek His heart above all else and remain faithful to Him in every season.
The context of this verse really speaks to me. Jesus was talking to the Pharisees, men who cared a lot about appearances and about what others thought of them. They looked good on the outside, but Jesus reminded them that God sees something deeper; He sees the heart. This can be a challenge for some of us. If I'm honest, I like being appreciated. I like knowing that people are happy with me and that I've done a good job. Most of us do. There's nothing wrong with loving people and wanting to serve them well, but there is a difference between loving people and living for their approval. As I've been reading through Acts, I couldn't help but think about Festus. In Acts 25:9, he knew Paul had done nothing wrong, yet he still tried to please the Jewish leaders instead of simply doing what was right.
“But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, 'Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?” Acts 25:9
That verse made me stop and think. How many times do we make decisions based on keeping everyone happy? How often do we avoid difficult conversations, stay quiet, or compromise because we don't want to disappoint someone? The truth is, pleasing people can be exhausting because expectations are always changing. One day you're doing great, and the next day someone is unhappy. But God's standards don't change. He looks at our hearts, our motives, and our willingness to obey Him even when it's uncomfortable.
I'm learning that following Jesus means caring deeply for people while keeping God first. It means treating others with kindness and respect, but not allowing their approval to become more important than His.
As a husband, a father, and someone stepping into a new season of ministry, this is a lesson I want to hold on to. I won't always get everything right, but my prayer is that my desire to please God would always be greater than my desire to please people.
At the end of the day, the peace that comes from knowing you've honored the Lord is worth far more than the temporary approval of others.
May God help us to seek His heart above all else and remain faithful to Him in every season.