Focus on Living for an Audience of One
By Rick Warren
“No one can serve two masters.” Luke 16:13 (NIV)
When you’re always worried about what other people think of you, you can’t be what God wants you to be. But, when you learn to think like Jesus, you won’t worry about pleasing everyone. Jesus had the right focus. He was only concerned with pleasing God.
Jesus was never manipulated by crowds or by the approval or the disapproval of anybody else. He lived for an audience of one: “I try to please the One who sent me” (John 5:30 NCV). When you have the mind of Christ, that's what you do.
Wouldn't it simplify your life to live for an audience of one? If God likes what you’re doing, then you know you’re doing the right thing.
God says in Matthew 3:17, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (NIV). Jesus was obviously doing it right.
The truth is, you can't please everybody. Even God can't please everybody! When someone prays for it to be sunny, somebody else is praying for it to rain. Somebody is praying for their team to do well, and someone else wants the opposing team to win. You can't please everybody.
Luke 16:13 says, “No one can serve two masters” (NIV).
You have to decide whose approval you’re going to seek—God's approval or other people’s approval. Are you going to live for what other people think or what God thinks?
When you're always looking for validation from other people, it means you don't really realize who you are. You don’t understand what God made you to do or believe that he is always with you.
Jesus never let someone else’s approval or a fear of rejection control him. He wasn’t out to win a popularity contest. He didn't need other people’s opinions to validate himself.
When you have the mind of Christ, you will be so secure in your identity, your purpose, and God's presence in your life that you won't need to look to other people for approval.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Find Your Breakthrough Today!
Pastor Rick created the 40 Days of Prayer Bible study to help you seek God with greater faith, joy, and confidence, so you can experience the breakthrough that happens when you focus on God and not your problems.
Request this 7-session video* and workbook study when you give a gift below to help Daily Hope take the hope of Jesus to more people around the world.
We’re grateful for you!
*Video is available in DVD or streaming formats. The workbook will be mailed to you.
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.
