Why do people do what they do? Sometimes I wonder if it is only to impress or please others. If it is to impress others then I believe we are doing things to get praise/approval for who we are, which could be seen in what we do. Grandma used to say if you quack like a duck, walk like a duck, act like a duck then people are going to call you a duck. So what is the point of acting like what you are not unless you want people to see you as you aren’t. Are you a duck or are you simply acting like a duck? Either way, folks see you as a duck if you are continually displaying the characteristics of a duck.
So what about us church folks? Oh yes! We lift our hands in church in praise to God and then we curse our brother and sister made in God’s image while in traffic? Let someone cut you off and watch the quacks come out. What about when someone is against you politically? Do we pray for them? It is a growing trend to talk about people, verbally tearing down all choices and activities that they do publicly and then add prayer for them on the end. My heart is longing to be right with God because I want Him not to be impressed with me but for me to honor Him in my life. What is the intent on what you do and say? It could be to impress? Maybe for approval?
Approval for who you are is what many want today although their behavior indicates that they are on a lifestyle path of destruction. Do we talk about them? Do we pray for them? Do we talk to them? Yes, yes, yes. Here is the balance. We talk about the sin being wrong, we talk about how we need to pray for the person, we talk to the person to let them know we are praying for them because of their pain, we let the people know that what they are doing is wrong, and we continue to show them God’s love in the midst. Wow! How does this happen and how do we balance this? We can’t. That is where God deals with our questions and struggle of balancing out the truth in love. In the mist of every situation God will tell us what to do or when to be quiet. You know being quiet is an option sometimes? What is the intent of your heart’s involvement in your broken relationships? Are you trying to please, impress or honor God? Think about it!
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. – Psalms 19:14
