City Life Starter

Written by Stefan Johnsson

Scott Fiddler did a wonderful job with writing on authenticity yesterday. I’m sure he won’t mind if i copied what he wrote, put it in quotations, and added a reference link to his devotional. But alas, I’ll have to do my best and be authentic in knowing that I cannot follow a great devotional like his. I may have to switch Scott to the end of week if this continues. 🙂

The Word

¹⁰ For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10

Reflection

I love how Paul opens up his letter to the church in Galatia. He wants to make sure that the Christians in this city do not abandon the gospel that was preached to them. And then Paul drives the point home in verse ten. He is not seeking the approval of man, but of God. If he was, he wouldn’t be a servant of Christ. This is meant to point to Paul’s selfless motivations in his preaching of the gospel message compared to those who had.

What does this have to do with authenticity?

Simply put, Paul knew that to be authentic is to seek after God’s approval. When you do this, how you treat others and how you live your life is through humility and love. If you sought after man’s approval, authenticity would be that you would have to continuously change your behavior to match the social group or setting that you are in. Your idea of authenticity would a tiring facade throughout your entire life.

When you work on your vertical relationship, then it’s easier to work on your horizontal relationships. This is why you should first seek after the approval of God in your daily life.

It is easy to be authentic with God, because as Psalm 69:5 says, “O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.” This should be our starting point. If we understand that we cannot be “fake” with God in our attitude and thought, then this will blead into our daily interactions with others. We can share our faults and failures to those around us, to our brothers and sisters in Christ, or as a testimony to reach non-Christians, because we first shared this with God who sees and knows everything. Our motivations will be in line with God instead of trying to please man.

Application

If you want a basic roadmap to authenticity, then begin simply by praying to God and admit all your sin, shame, and hurt to Him. When you do, you have begun down the road of authenticity. It opens up your heart to humility and a need for Him more than a need for anything that this life offers. This is what seeking after the approval of God means.

Then, with time, you will become more authentic with those around you and doing so with humility and care, knowing that you need God just as much as the person next to you. You can cry together, pray together, and share each others’ burdens in order for healing and love to grow.

Pray

Father, help me to be authentic with You and to seek after Your approval in my daily life. I need You more than I need anything else in this life. It is hard to be true to who I am without being true to what You have called me to be. Thank You Father for all Your blessings and discipline. You are my devotion. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.