"Never court anything other than the approval of God . . . Jesus told the disciples not to rejoice in successful service, and yet this seems to be the one thing in which most of us do rejoice" -- Oswald.
I am terribly fond of quantifiable measures -- good grades, pay increases, compliments, positive evaluations, fundraising letters that garner a higher percentage of response than the year before, gardens visibly free of weeds, big healthy plants loaded with tomatoes, children who win awards and memorize Bible verses, successful grant applications, thumbs-up signs on my Facebook posts . . . The approval of God is so much less tangible. How do I know that I have it?
I think the right answer is that I know I have it because I am covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, and when God the Father looks at me, he sees his son. To his son, he said, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased," and that approval is transferred to me. I know it because the Bible tells me so. Still, I frantically pursue other proofs of my value.
Help me, Lord, to let go of this need for external evidence. Help me to stop glancing at the measuring sticks and accept your grace.
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