In what do you find your identity? Your answer is important because your answer will inform your actions.
The Pharisees and Jesus
In Matthew 22, the Pharisees send their disciples along with the Herodians to trick Jesus. Approaching Jesus the group says,
“Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.” (Matt. 22:16b)
If you can’t tell, their flattering is false. Yet, there is some truth to it. Truth they are hoping to use against Jesus. Jesus is, as they say, unconcerned with the opinions of others. Jesus isn’t a politician who makes calculated political maneuvers or who holds back because of what other might think.
Jesus doesn’t do those things because Jesus doesn’t find His identity in the acceptance of others but in His relationship with the Father. As a result, He says and stands for the truth.
What We Should Do
Just like Jesus, we shouldn’t find our identity in the acceptance of others either. We shouldn’t be wrapped up in what others think about us. All that’s going to result in is us being let down.
Think about it. Our peers opinions changes as quickly as the weather. If we want their acceptance, we have to constantly win it by doing things of which they approve. That, however, is no way to live, especially if we are Christians.
You see, if we are constantly worried about the approval of others, we are more likely to equivocate on God’s Word – to act contrary to God’s will, and to cave when we should stand for the truth. So instead of trying to win the approval of our peers, the public, or even our own families, we should seek God’s acceptance.
The Sureness of God’s Acceptance
God’s acceptance is something we don’t ever have to be anxious about because it never changes. God’s acceptance never changes because it’s not based on our work, but on Jesus’ work.
You see, when we believe in Jesus as our Savior and repent of our sins to follow Him, Jesus’ work is attributed to us, so that when God looks down on us, He sees Jesus. He doesn’t see all the mistakes we have and will make. He doesn’t see our sin. Instead, He sees Jesus and the life He lived.
Conclusion
So instead of finding our identity in others, we should be like Jesus and find our identity in God. If we do, we will be more likely to stand for the truth.
Question for Reflection
- Do you see a correlation between identity, acceptance, and standing for the truth?
Resources
Post adapted from my sermon: How should we think of authority?
Christianity Matters 
In answer to your “reflection” question, absolutely! Why else is everyone jumping on one politically correct bandwagon after another? Our society is driven by the opinion of others, and those who dare to step outside society’s box, find themselves the object of criticism and slander. The patriarch of “Duck Dynasty” comes to mind, among others.
Most of our families have their own “boxes” or expectations that we are pressured to squeeze into. Somewhere down the road we were taught to offer exuberant praise for “being good” and scorn for “being bad”. Thus, we become adults who need the acceptance and validation of others to feel at peace and successful.
Even in Christian circles, there can be some expectation that one’s works make them acceptable among their Christian friends. “God is pleased when I do (this)” or “God is angry when I do (that)”. This creates legalistic Christians who rarely come to understand the true meaning of Grace and Love. He obviously calls us to live holy lives and separate ourselves from the world, but we do this because we love Him (because He loves us) and we understand that true success and fulfillment is found only in Him.
Thanks giving me something worthwhile to ponder!
Blessings and Maranatha
Not much I can add to your comment except that I agree. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Blessings,
Casey
Reblogged this on A Mom Looking Up.