Validation
I love getting comments!! Whether it's on this blog or Facebook or Pinterest! It's just so exciting to see what people have to say when you post something you think is awesome. (Admit it! You do too!!) But that got me to thinking, especially when it comes to my blog, why do those words carry so much weight? They are encouraging...after all, it means someone actually read this. So I began to think back to when I started this journey. I didn't start it to be validated by readers or even my own friends and family. I started it to be validated by my FATHER.
All too often we are looking for someone's stamp of approval. It's in our nature really. I mean think about it...
Eve took a bite of some fruit that she knew was absolutely forbidden, all because she gave too much thought to what a lowly serpent said...Adam undoubtedly felt an insurmountable amount of guilt for not protecting Eve from a spineless snake and so he probably coined the phrase, "If you can't beat 'em...join 'em!" And from there the whole world spiraled out of control... all because they weighed the word of another more than the only one that really mattered...which was the VOICE that came looking for them later that evening in the garden. Unfortunately, at that point, it was just too late. They'd chose to seek approval and acceptance elsewhere else. abo
ut Sampson! All that brawn but no brains really...after all how many times did Delilah tempt him o convey the secret of his strength to Even Peter, one of CHRIST's most beloved disciples fought with wanting to feel validated. First, he argues with the other disciples about who was the greatest among them. Even after JESUS puts Peter in his place, Peter argues with CHRIST that he would never fail HIM. Then later the same evening, we find Peter warming himself by the fire, denying any knowledge of the man that just a few short hours before he called MASTER and swore allegiance to. All because Peter, at that point in his life, cared more about what others were thinking than what GOD was telling him.
Then I began to think of JESUS. I mean what better example of righteous validation could you find. Think about it, children do everything they can to get their parents attention. Whether good or bad...they just want someone to care what they are doing. While this need for recognition is clearly present from birth, it wasn't in HIM to need that. When Mary and Joseph accidentally, left HIM behind after the Passover at the age of 12, HE began to teach in the temple where some of the most revered scholars stood and they all marveled. When HIS earthly parents came for HIM and questioned why HE didn't follow...HIS answer,
It's not that JESUS didn't care what HIS parents thought or that they were worried. It's that HE had a purpose to fulfill and their approval was trivial compared to that of HIS FATHER'S. However, because HE was still under the guidance of HIS earthly parents HE respected their wishes and followed them home.
Later, when it was time for HIM to begin HIS public ministry, you find the same passionate spirit. When the temple was being used for ill gain, HE wasn't worried what others were thinking and in his righteous indignation, HE began overturning the tables of the moneychangers who were using the temple for their own profit (John 2:13-16 is the account of this happening early in HIS ministry). All throughout HIS ministry, you will find CHRIST caring for those the religious crowd would consider undesirable. HE dined with a tax collecter (Zacchaeus), spoke to the woman at the well (a Samaritan...a group of people the Jews would not mingle with under any circumstances) and even healed a leper. No matter what, JESUS did exactly what HIS FATHER would approve of. When HE was baptized there could have been no great validation than these words:
"And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."(Matthew 3:17 KJV)
We too will have that opportunity one day...to hear those words...
"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 25:21 KJV)
CHRIST always chose to do what pleased GOD...
"...Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42)
All the way to the cross HE went...just so you and I could be validated in the eyes of our FATHER.
All too often we are looking for someone's stamp of approval. It's in our nature really. I mean think about it...
Eve took a bite of some fruit that she knew was absolutely forbidden, all because she gave too much thought to what a lowly serpent said...Adam undoubtedly felt an insurmountable amount of guilt for not protecting Eve from a spineless snake and so he probably coined the phrase, "If you can't beat 'em...join 'em!" And from there the whole world spiraled out of control... all because they weighed the word of another more than the only one that really mattered...which was the VOICE that came looking for them later that evening in the garden. Unfortunately, at that point, it was just too late. They'd chose to seek approval and acceptance elsewhere else. abo
ut Sampson! All that brawn but no brains really...after all how many times did Delilah tempt him o convey the secret of his strength to Even Peter, one of CHRIST's most beloved disciples fought with wanting to feel validated. First, he argues with the other disciples about who was the greatest among them. Even after JESUS puts Peter in his place, Peter argues with CHRIST that he would never fail HIM. Then later the same evening, we find Peter warming himself by the fire, denying any knowledge of the man that just a few short hours before he called MASTER and swore allegiance to. All because Peter, at that point in his life, cared more about what others were thinking than what GOD was telling him.
Then I began to think of JESUS. I mean what better example of righteous validation could you find. Think about it, children do everything they can to get their parents attention. Whether good or bad...they just want someone to care what they are doing. While this need for recognition is clearly present from birth, it wasn't in HIM to need that. When Mary and Joseph accidentally, left HIM behind after the Passover at the age of 12, HE began to teach in the temple where some of the most revered scholars stood and they all marveled. When HIS earthly parents came for HIM and questioned why HE didn't follow...HIS answer,
"How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:49 KJV)
It's not that JESUS didn't care what HIS parents thought or that they were worried. It's that HE had a purpose to fulfill and their approval was trivial compared to that of HIS FATHER'S. However, because HE was still under the guidance of HIS earthly parents HE respected their wishes and followed them home.
Later, when it was time for HIM to begin HIS public ministry, you find the same passionate spirit. When the temple was being used for ill gain, HE wasn't worried what others were thinking and in his righteous indignation, HE began overturning the tables of the moneychangers who were using the temple for their own profit (John 2:13-16 is the account of this happening early in HIS ministry). All throughout HIS ministry, you will find CHRIST caring for those the religious crowd would consider undesirable. HE dined with a tax collecter (Zacchaeus), spoke to the woman at the well (a Samaritan...a group of people the Jews would not mingle with under any circumstances) and even healed a leper. No matter what, JESUS did exactly what HIS FATHER would approve of. When HE was baptized there could have been no great validation than these words:
"And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."(Matthew 3:17 KJV)
We too will have that opportunity one day...to hear those words...
"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 25:21 KJV)
CHRIST always chose to do what pleased GOD...
"...Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42)
All the way to the cross HE went...just so you and I could be validated in the eyes of our FATHER.
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