for God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. [2 corinthians 5:21]
it is idolatry to seek to please men – above pleasing the Lord.
but at the core – the deeper idol underneath the desire to please men – is to please self.
i want friends, i don’t want to be alone, i want comfort, i don’t want to be rejected, i want to avoid conflict, i don’t want to miss out on “love” (and on and on) … so i will please men.
today, may we remember that Jesus bore the punishment for our idolatry. for putting ourself as god above God Almighty, Jesus hung on the cross friendless, alone, without comfort, rejected, in outer and inner conflict, and separated from his Father’s love. all of God’s wrath fell on Jesus so all of God’s grace could fall on us.
what grace …
what love …
what an exchange.
our life …
for his.
today – does this amazing truth move your heart to repentance? does it turn it to the Lord?
if so, see the prayer below. make it your own – rewrite it and spend some time repenting of your people-pleasing – right now!
o Lord, may our repentance go past a simple confession that we are people-pleasers. the truth is – we seek to be god because we are not sure you, Holy God, will provide us true comfort, friendship, love. we are not sure your comfort, friendship, and love is better than that of people – so we sin.
in our repentance, Lord help us see the death that comes to our soul and others when we people-please. show us how this defames your name and grieves your heart.
and above all Lord – turn our eyes to see that you are fully pleasing to our soul. let us taste and see that you are all-satisfying.
in Jesus name – amen!
~ john ryan