Galatians 1: 1- 17

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Galatians 1: 1- 17 (NRSV)

Paul an apostle-sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead- 2and all the members of God's family who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- 7not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! 9As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!
10 Am I now seeking human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; 12for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. 14I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. 15But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.

Think:

Even Paul struggled with peer pressure.  "Am I now seeking human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people?  If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ"

How many people in service professions are trying to please people, or seek human approval?  I know that when I was an undergraduate all I wanted to do was help people, but I wasn't sure what that would look like. That's exactly what I told my mentor, Professor Ghanssia (RIP and RIG), when he asked why I was wasting my time as a psych major (his words not mine).  All I want to do is help people.  His response was you can't help people in psych, you maybe can help A person.  I was discouraged because I wanted to please myself and please him, he had inspired me to do some of my best writing.  So I struggled with what I wanted to do from the first of it.  Out of his inspiration I sought a new path, but I remained in "people pleasing" mode.  I was always looking for away to get approval from my friends, my family, my boss.  It has taken a lot of time to get to the point that I at least recognize that about myself, and now I don't try to seek pleasure as much for other people.  I know that my actions won't make them happy or miserable.  The only person who I can make happy is myself, and even that doesn't always work out all that well.  The only person who is always approving of me despite my many failures is God.  (see the cartoon below from Radio Free Babylon for a good sense of perspective on this)

Pray:
Help me to stop trying to please others, and focus on my relationship with you, God.  Amen

Contemplation:
10 minutes centering prayer if the dog will just shut up for 10 minutes.