As a new believer, I wanted to be seen as good, but as I grew in the Lord it was more about "being" Christlike rather than "appearing" so.
In the attempt to "appear" good to other people I thought were strong believers, I found myself falling into error. I thought they were right because they had been believers much longer than I and had not sinned as "big" as I had. Although I don't remember a time when they told me how they became born again, or ever admitted that they needed to repent from a wicked heart.
It was later, as I grew in the Lord that I realized the size of sin was not important, it was the brokenness over it and the working of Christ in our lives.
I began my Christian walk thinking I had to be like other "more seasoned" Christians, only to fall into the trap of following Christians instead of following Christ.
So many pressures came upon me to be like them, that I became over burdened with superficial and nonsensical rules and standards, that I broke under the strain, falling to my knees in repentance, I began seeking Christ on my own. Such joy and freedom entered my soul that I began to question everything the apostate church taught, forcing me to delve into the Scriptures on my own, alone with the Holy Spirit.
When our focus is what people think of us, then we will seek to please them or be angry if they don't elevate us.
When our focus is Christ we will seek to please Him. In this frame of mind, He will work in us, we do not depend on ourselves to accomplish growth. The more we listen to the Holy Spirit and obey what He tells us, the greater will be our growth.
Ephesians 2:9-10
"…9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life."
We cannot please both men and people, men will ask us to be what they like, rather than what Christ wants.
Galatians 1:10
"10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Bottom Line: Stop watching people for the answers and turn to the Holy Spirit. Elevate no one equal to or above God. Only Christ has all the answers, we have no excuses to not learn because Christ said this:
James 1:4-6
"…4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.…"
Remember this passage, it does not say ask people, it says ask God.
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