MAY 18, 2025 ~ FROM A PASTOR'S HEART

MAY 18 DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING:  ACTS 5:22-32

One of the hardest things for us to do is to serve the Lord just for His sake and not for the validation of others. Many of us followers of Jesus see ourselves and our ministry based on how others see us, how others treat us, how others accept us. Part of this is seen when people do us wrong, or mistreat us. This poor treatment either causes us to want to quit and shut down, or it makes us want to strike back and become defensive. We do this because if we are completely honest, we have to admit most of the time, we do ministry for the approval of other people rather than for the Lord. I believe this is true across the board for us followers of Jesus. And because it is true, we are all over the place in our ministry and our feelings concerning ministry, trying to please people. People are fickle, and biblical ministry is not about pleasing people.

Paul said, "For am I now seeking the approval of man or God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were trying to please man, I would not be a servant of God" (Galatians 1:10). Jesus said that He sought to please His Father. We are told to do what we do "...as unto the Lord." Our motive for what we do means everything. The Lord has called us to have pure motive in our service to Him. You might say, "I thought ministry is about people?" ...and you would be right, it is about people. But it is not about trying to please everybody, nor is it about having everyone's opinion of us and our ministry determine what our ministry is, and how we feel about it. We minister to people in the Lord's Name...we minister to people in response to the Lord...we minister to people not seeking man's approval, but as servants of the Lord. If our motive is right then we are not tossed to and fro by people's opinions, by their criticism, or even by their overt attacks. It really is when we are serving the Lord and pleasing Him that we can live at peace with all people...even those harsh critics and those who would treat us badly.

Please share your thoughts.