Approved by God

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%201-3&version=NIV

It is so easy to get caught up in living according to the standards of the world and measuring ourselves according to those standards. For men, often time those standards are related to career and success as they search for a sense of significance. Author and Psychologist Larry Crabb writes that "Nothing terrifies a man more than to think his life amounts to nothing more than a hand dipped into water and then withdrawn, with no evidence that is was ever there. A man's fear is this: Am I adequate? Do I have the weight to handle important tasks, to impact a woman, a child, a friend, in a way that affirms my value."

Men, I want you first to know that the desire to be significant is okay - in fact, I would venture to say that it is a God-given desire that is designed to drive you to be the leaders, the protectors, the warriors that you are. The desire is not one that should be nor can be killed. Indeed, the question isn't whether men should have this desire to be significant, but rather where you should look to determine how significant you are? How are you to measure your significance?

For women, the struggle is no less weighty, but the desire is different. While men long for significance, women yern for beauty. Crabb describes it as a desire for "an internal reality that makes eternal impact by drawing others to cherish and honor and protect what they see, by awakening in others their desire for ultimate beauty. Nothing terrifies a woman more thant to feel that there is nothing unique about her that another could esteem and treasure. A woman fear is this: Can I connect deeply with anyone? Is anyone safe? Will anyone sense my beauty, or is there nothing so see that others will honor or enjoy?"

Women, there is nothing wrong with the desire to be seen as beautiful, unique, treasured and esteemed, for God created you with that desire, coupled with that deeply, relational desire for connection. We cannot nor should not try to removed a desire that is God created. What we must do is look not to the world for our standard of beauty or to fill that desire.

Both men and women alike, before you continue on, I want you to take a few minutes to ponder the perfection with which God created us - especially in terms of relationship with one another. Note that God created men with the inate desire to lead, protect, to give their very lives for others. And then he created woman as a helpmate to stand behind and beside man with completely complimental desires - to be treasured, protected and esteemed - to be loved. Together they form the relationship described in Ephesians 5:22-33 - a relationship that reflects Christs and the church. The way God created us - male and female - is both very wise and absolutely perfect, declared to by God at creation to be very good.

But as we know, after the fall, sin entered into this perfect creation, creating a shadow that darkened the clarity with which man and woman could see that their desire for significance and security was found in God. And since the fall, the search for a means to fulfill these desires often leads to looking at the standards and things of the world to fill them. Yet God, in his loving wisdom, gives us words to guide us back to the truth.

Two of my favorite verses that have spoken to the very deep places in my heart where these desires reside, are found in our reading today. The first is in Galatians 1:10, as Paul speaks of his own work. He makes it clear that he has no concern over what the world - other people - think he should be or do. My prayer for each of you this day is that in Christ you would be lead to the kind of confidence found in these words. I pray that every day you would be reminded of the truth and find rest there that it is God whom you should desire to please, that only God can qualify you. Here is truth:

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

The second is Galatians 2:6 as Paul speaks of men who, by worldly standards, were seen to be important and significant. He reminds the church that signifance is found not in appearances, but in work one does for God - in the truth that one speaks to lead others to the knowledge of God. I pray also that these words would plant deeply in your heart:

"As for those who seemed to be important - whatever they were makes no difference to me. God does not judge by external appearance - those men added nothing to my message."

Paul, nor God, was concerned about what men who, by appearance seemed important, had to say. His concern was that truth be spoken. You, my friends, will feel significance beyond anything that success or beauty by worldly standards could bring, when you are working in and for the Kingdom of God. Men, there is no greater significance to be found than that which is found when one is in the center of God's will. Move away from worldly standards, stick very, very close to God, and you will find yourself working in the center of his will often. Stick very, very close to God, women, and he will created a beauty in you that is irresistable as your reflect his glory to those whose lives you touch.

There will be a day, my precious friends, when we will again have a perfect sense of significance and security - a day when all things will be made new. We wait in hope for that day. But for today, we live every day with the spirit of truth inside of us, reminding us that in Christ, we find significance, beauty, and a perfect love. Until that day, we walk every day seeking the face of God as servants of Christ, significant and secure in the work he has given for us to do that day. We walk in this truth, precious ones:

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7

"His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put there hope in his unfailing love." - Psalm 147: 10-11

Be blessed!

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels