Who Are You Trying to Please?
“For prior to the arrival of certain people from [the community headed by] Ya‘akov, he had been eating with the Gentile believers; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he was afraid of the faction who favored circumcising Gentile believers.”
Galatians 2:12 CJB
This one hit me this morning because Peter knew better.
Before certain people showed up, Peter was sitting at the table with the Gentile believers. He was eating with them, fellowshipping with them, and treating them as brothers and sisters in Christ.
But then people walked into the room—and Peter changed.
Not because God changed.
Not because the truth changed.
Not because those Gentile believers suddenly became less worthy.
Peter changed because he became afraid of what other people would think.
And if we’re not careful, we can do the exact same thing.
How often does our behavior change depending on who walks into the room?
We’ll talk to someone until a certain group shows up. We’ll stand for something until standing for it might cost us acceptance. We’ll show love and grace privately, but hesitate publicly because we’re worried about what somebody else might think.
That’s the danger of seeking the approval of people.
The fear of man can cause us to compromise what we already know to be true.
Peter knew the Gospel. He knew salvation wasn’t determined by being Jewish or Gentile. Yet for a moment, his fear of people became stronger than his willingness to live out what he knew.
That challenges me to ask myself:
Do I treat people differently depending on who is watching?
Do I stand on God’s truth when it’s comfortable, but back away when it might cost me something?
Am I more concerned with being accepted by people—or being obedient to God?
Our faith shouldn’t change depending on who enters the room.
Our love shouldn’t change.
Our convictions shouldn’t change.
And the way we treat people shouldn’t change.
If Christ is truly Lord of my life, then I should be the same follower of Jesus no matter who is sitting at the table.
Rev. Carlos Figueroa
TheFreeBible.org
occur to me that Christ’s redemptive love freed me fron that perceived need…. I still struggle with the notion that His grace is not sufficient for redeeming me as a beloved meme er of His family.
I pray Lord that Your word will inspire me to recognize that people pleasing does not earn acceptance. My acceptance and submission to Your Lordship does. My recognition that by Your redemptive work on the cross assures me that I am loves way beyond my imagination, and my desire ti serve others pivots from a cry for love, to an expression of the love instilled in me by my loving Savior!