1 Thess. 2:4 "For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts."
Paul is explaining to the Thessalonian Christians that he does what he does to spread the gospel and please God. He does not do it for himself, for his glory, or to win the favor of people.
Too often I want to please people. I am a people pleaser by nature-or nurture perhaps-I'll blame it on my parents! I do know this about myself. Maybe it stems from some insecurity in my past or feelings of inadequacy? I have no idea. At times it is a strength but more often than not it is a weakness. In the past several years I have grown significantly and I feel I have overcome this weakness but it still comes back every so often. The key for me in overcoming this is knowing and owning who I am in Jesus. I am secure and founded and loved in him alone. And this is so refreshing and so easy! It's much easier serving an audience of one than an audience of many.
Dear Jesus, help me please you today. Amen.
