Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
I've always wanted my father's approval. In fact, growing up I did everything that I could to get his approval. There were moments where I didn't get his approval, and I always felt like I was less of a man. Like I wasn't good enough. Honestly, I fought hard to get his approval.
I'll never forget preaching at a service that my dad was in. After the service was over, he came up to me and encouraged me. He said, "You're doing a great job. I'm proud of you." It was one of those moments where he just placed courage in me. That's what it means to encourage somebody. You're placing courage in the person. That was like wind to my sails. I mean, it was such a monumental moment because I felt like I didn't have to fight for his approval anymore. But years passed, and I still felt like I had to fight for his approval.
The Priestly Blessing
Our text today is a prayer that Aaron and his sons were to speak over Israel. Now remember, Israel just went through the wilderness. They had to trust for God's provision and protection. They had just gone through a tough time, and they had to rely on the Lord's power to lead them. In the midst of that, he says, "May the LORD smile on you." The big idea there is, may the Lord look on you with approval.
I think about that because I wanted my dad's smile. When I put that in the context of my faith as a believer, even if my earthly father doesn't approve of me, I have to remind myself I have a Heavenly Father who loves me, who approves of me, and who is for me even when I fail Him.
Working from Acceptance, Not for Acceptance
As I read this text, I was reminded of the fact that I don't work for acceptance. I work from a place of acceptance. When I'm serving the Lord, I'm not doing that to gain the acceptance of God. I'm already accepted and that's why I can serve Him. Now, the enemy wants us to believe that we're too wretched to be made new. We're too filthy to be accepted. There's two things that prevent us from believing that we're accepted: sins from our past and current sins that we're struggling with right now.
Dealing with Past Sins
There are moments in my life where the enemy will whisper to me sins that I've committed in the past. Honestly, if I agree to the lies that the enemy's feeding me, the tape goes like this: do you remember when you did so-and-so in the past? Do you really think that people are going to listen to you when you preach? Because do you remember when you did that in the past?
If I believe his lies, and if I agree with his lies because he's the accuser of the brethren, that's his goal, to accuse me. When I agree with him, I give the enemy power. Whenever that whisper comes that you're not enough, that you're not going to finish your race well, that you're not anointed, that God doesn't love you, that you're too far gone, you have to remind yourself that your sin has been pinned to the cross, and God accepts you.
Dealing with Current Sins
There's sins from the past. Then there's current sins, maybe things that you're struggling with right now. The enemy wants you to believe that because of your current struggle, God doesn't accept you. Here's what that does. It prevents you and I from going to God with boldness because if somebody is going to reject me, I don't have confidence to approach that person.
I have to remind myself I'm accepted. I am a child of God. I can just picture Aaron speaking this over Israel. "May the LORD smile on you." Hey, remember you're accepted. Why are we accepted? Because we're in Jesus Christ.
The Constant Grace of God
Then he says this, "And be gracious to you." The grace of God, it doesn't fluctuate for the Christian. It does not fluctuate based on how good we are, based on how much we read and pray. There are moments where I feel like God loves me more because I've read just a few more chapters in the Bible, but that is not true. His grace for us is constant, and this is a beautiful reminder that our Christian race was started with the grace of God, and it's going to end with the grace of God.
Here's the encouraging word today: "May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you."
