Be Real - By Seeking Approval from God!

Acceptance. A state of acceptance is something people long for from other people. Just about everything we do from what clothes we wear to what kind of drink we buy at Starbucks is driven by a desire for other people to approve of us. God created us whole and complete – we were accepted and belonged. However, sin severed our relationship with God and other people. One consequence of the fall is that this acceptance we long for is pursued but not satisfied.  The problem with seeking approval from other people is that they too are seeking approval!

Be Real – by Seeking God’s Acceptance! Today our text is 1 Samuel 10:25-27.

Context: The Israelites decided they wanted a king “that we may also be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” This desire to be like others around them has resulted in the people rejecting God as their king. God heard their desire and chose a man named Saul to be there king. The day king Saul was anointed as king, it became very clear who supported him and who didn’t. One group referred to as “men of valor whose hearts God had touched” would support Saul and serve him. A second group referred to as worthless fellows verbally question how Saul will be able to save them. 

Lesson: “And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.”

Saul was chosen by God to be the king of Israel. I would venture to say that Saul was able to hold his peace because his acceptance, in this instance, was not from people but from God. We know that later in his life, he made decisions based on a desire to be accepted by people instead of God. This resulting in him making poor decisions. We can hold our peace and respond in grace toward others when the Lord is who we seek approval from.

Application: Today, let me encourage you to seek acceptance and affirmation from the Lord.