Homecoming King (Luke 16)

You probably don't know this about me but 11 years and 40 pounds ago I was Homecoming King at my high school. Before you get all excited, keep in mind I graduated with 20 people at a small Christian school and there were only 8 other guys in my grade. I wasn't only homecoming king my senior year I also was prince my 10th and 11th grade years as well. I didn't win for my strikingly handsome looks or my amazing leadership skills. I won my first two years just because my girlfriend was the shoe-in for the princess so they wanted to make it a good picture for the yearbook. My senior year we had parted ways but I still won . (I was the only one nominated because no other guy in my class even cared about going to homecoming.) At the time, even though I knew it didn't really mean anything, I still liked it. I liked feeling important, valued, appreciated, accepted. The whole school voted (all 120 of us) and winning made me feel like people liked me, they chose me. The moments on stage with the crown, the pictures flashing, people clapping...it felt good. I have always wanted people to like me. Accept me. I never liked it when people didn't like me. I guess that is normal...but normal isn't always OK. Part of me (a big part of me) still to this day, wants people to like me. To approve of me. There is a deep longing in my heart to be accepted, loved, appreciated, honored, needed and valued. Many times I find myself seeking the approval of people, making sure I am OK in their eyes. If I feel like somebody doesn't like me it bothers me to the core. I ask questions like, how can I change? Be different for them to like me? What can I say to make them laugh and maybe change the way the feel about me? Sounds OK, but deep down I loose a sense of who I really am for the sake of pleasing somebody else. In my reading today Jesus, after teaching a parable, directs a comment at the Pharisees listening. "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men but God knows your hearts, for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God." When we seek the approval of those around us we unveil a dark side of our heart. One that does not understand that God has already approved of us through Christ. A heart that seeks to please sinful men over pleasing Creator God. A heart that longs to be fulfilled by moments that will pass while missing the fullness of eternity. God I pray that today I will not seek approval. That I won't try to be anything that I am not for anybody who isn't.....Isn't you. Lord may I genuinely love people today and serve people today, driven by your approval alone which was already displayed in my life through the Grace of Jesus. Thanks for loving me today, not because of a crown, or a title, but because it is who you are!