Empty

One of the things our kids face – actually we do as well – is the continual pressure of how others perceive us.  We face it every day.  Our motives, actions, dress, speech, thoughts, and physique are scrutinized and measured against some standard that we may or may – check that – do not understand.  It may be a simple as somebody somewhere has decided that a word has become offensive to somebody and should no longer be used in polite company.  No matter that the word in question has been used for 1000’s of years and has meaning defined by that usage.  Or suddenly some color of clothes has meaning of which one now has to be aware.  For me it is impossible to keep up with all of this, even if I wanted to, which I do not.

There is only one person whom I need to please.  Galatians 1:10 says it best.  I am a bond servant of Christ not of man, and that includes me.  I do not need to please myself.  It occurs to me that most of the challenges we face in relationships stem from the parties working hard to please themselves.  It is what Larry Crabb describes as two tics on no dog.  Working to please others is futile, impossible.  Working to please Christ in any relationship is a more attainable if not a simple goal.

In Philippians 2:5 – 8 Paul outlines what that should be for us.  Romans 5:6 – 10 tells us that Christ did this for people who were helpless, ungodly, sinners, who were committed enemies.  He was not trying to please them or fit into their ideas of politically correct, He served them for His Father’s purposes by emptying Himself and dying on their, our behalf.

The only way we can serve those around us, in our families, schools, and work place is to do the same.