Only Jesus

Gal. 1:¹⁰ “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”

“Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. So the angel said, ‘Do NOT BE AFRAID, Mary, for God has decided to bless and use you!  You will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus . . . and he will be the Son of God, and his Kingdom will never end!’  Then Mary asked, ‘But how can this be?’” [Luke 1:29-34 paraphrased]. Mary’s response is a statement of inadequacy. How?… I do not have the capacity to do this; neither do I have the means for it. How can this be? And like Mary, God is saying to you and I even now, “Do not be afraid because God has decided to bless you” [say Amen]. Look at that fear of inadequacy and say out loud, “Do not be afraid [insert your name] because God has decided to bless you.” The fear of inadequacy was present at the first Christmas. If you are feeling inadequate this Christmas, over two thousand and twenty-one years after know that you are not in a strange situation. The God that spoke to Mary, is saying to you, even now, ‘Fear not and do not be afraid.’ [say Amen].

Joseph faced the fear of disapproval. Imagine Joseph hanging out with his friends and they say, ‘Jo, we hear your girl is pregnant…’, he says, ‘Yes, she is’ ‘Is the baby yours?’ they ask. Joseph says, ‘No’. Probing, ‘Whose is it? What did she say?’ Joseph responds, ‘The Holy Spirit’. ‘The Who? And you believe her?’ ‘An angel appeared to me and told me to accept the child.’ ‘and..?’ ‘What can I do?’ Joseph responds. And the teasing and name-calling began. Imagine the names they would have called him. Joseph must have felt foolish and felt the fear of disapproval.

Matt.1:²⁰ “As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.” In other words, we see that you have the fear of disapproval in you, but Joseph, do not be afraid.’ The question is whose disapproval are you afraid of? Are you still afraid of your parent’s, sibling’s, or your peer’s disapproval? Whose disapproval are you afraid of? Many of us, particularly in this season, want to be accepted and to feel among. The fear of people’s disapproval makes us do things that God will not have us do.

On the flip side, whose approval are you living for? The only person’s approval we should live for is God. Honestly, there is no one on earth that you can fully satisfy and there is no one who can fully satisfy you. The moment you realize this, you have peace of mind. The only person you can fully satisfy is the Holy Spirit. He knows your cruelties, flaws, and limitations. He knows the things that are missing in your life and He loves you regardless. The converse is also the case; the only person that can fully satisfy you is God. No man can fully satisfy. Imagine Joseph would have lost the greatest opportunity of his life if he had lived for the approval of men.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, all my hopes and fear of years gone by are met in Thee even now. I will not be afraid because, Emmanuel, God is with me, in Jesus Name. Amen!