Humility: Freedom From Image Management
“Am I now seeking human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 NRSV
Series: Pursuing Humility
Devotional: 6 of 7
The humble in spirit are free from carrying the heavy burden of image management. You have an image, and I have an image, a way in which we want others to perceive us from the outside looking in. Those who walk in humility are willing to lay down their image and all the exhausting work it takes to keep it spotless and clean in the public eye.
Observation #6: The humble are free from a life of image management.
Freedom in the area of image management can take on different forms in daily life. Here are three:
1. Freedom from image management releases the humble person from constant worry about what others think about them. Speculation and "What if?" thinking is no longer a way of life. Instead, the mind of the humble has been freed up to focus on Christ and the advancement of His Kingdom. Those who walk in humility find comfort in the words of Paul when he wrote, "Am I now seeking human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ." (See Galatians 1:10)
2. The humble person has laid down the heavy burden of image management - including not worrying about being misunderstood by others. They fully trust that God is their defender, making it possible for them to remain silent - even in the face of gossip. By the power of the Spirit of Jesus, they are able to tame their tongue, resisting the temptation to over-explain the details of this or that situation in order to manage and control how other people perceive them. Indeed, the words of Proverbs 10:19 guide the humble person, "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech."
3. The humble are not easily offended or overly sensitive to the flippant words of others. "My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith." (James 2:1 MSG) Walking in freedom, the humble person is centrally focused on pointing everyone they encounter to the one man, Jesus Christ, who is worthy of receiving all glory and praise.
Those who humbly walk with God care only about one thing - protecting the image of Christ in the eyes of those who don't yet know Him as Lord and Savior.
Perhaps we should get quiet with the Lord and ask some challenging questions that we might not want to hear the answers to. “Lord, am I easily offended? Do I seek the approval of others at any cost? Why do I worry so much about being misunderstood by others?” Jesus help.
OnThe3rdDay Devotionals
Devotionals that illustrate Biblical principles in a simple and short format that can be applied to your everyday life.
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