Oh, I cringe, literally, as I type that. At 44 years of age, I still fight the tendency to cave to peer pressure just so I will be liked! I risk the wrath, the disappointment of my heavenly father for the temporary approval someone I may not even know all that well. Really?
But wait, it gets worse! Sometimes I struggle because I want to be liked by someone I don't even LIKE! Where is the rationality in that? I wish cell phones with digital cameras had existed the first time I told my husband that little tidbit about myself! Talk about a priceless expression!
I have to stop and remind myself that this is not the way Jesus wants me to live my life. There is a cost to following Jesus. And He is clear about this.
Luke 9:57-62 (New International Version, ©2011)
The Cost of Following Jesus
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
Clearly, God doesn't want us to just abandon our family. He makes this clear in the scriptures. But we cannot look back to our lives B.C. (as my husband likes to say~Before Christ.) We cannot dabble in that lifestyle just to please the people around us. Once we have chosen Jesus, that is who we belong to. Who we have to look to for acceptance. And it isn't always easy. But it is right. And it is never boring! But that is another blog entry!
So look to God for the strength. Ask Him to help you to know, in your head and in your heart that His acceptance is all you need!
My husband told me about a quote he read. "The American dream is buying things with money you don't have to impress people you don't know." Totally not worth it....and not worth it to try and impress people.
ReplyDeleteI struggled with this too, Tonni. It is difficult to move past and let go. I think I have..........most of the time. I'm trying! :)