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READ: MATTHEW 11:28-30; GALATIANS 1:10; COLOSSIANS 3:23-24\n\n\n\nHave you ever felt pressure to get straight As or be the best athlete on the field? There are so many things in this world telling us to be the best at this or that. When we feel this pressure on our shoulders, it can start to crush us.\n\n\n\nThe truth is, it can be good to use the skills and abilities God has given us as we work hard for things and do our best\u2014this can be an act of worship, honoring to God. But once we allow ourselves to be controlled by achieving the highest standing because we want to be well-liked, accepted, or feel valuable, then we know we\u2019ve crossed a line. This can be a sign that we\u2019re starting to forget that we are perfectly loved, accepted, and valued in Christ.\n\n\n\nAnd when we forget this truth, we start allowing ourselves to do things for the approval of other people, turning away from what God wants for us. Instead of walking in God\u2019s good ways because His unshakeable love has transformed our hearts, we begin to do things to get people to like us or accept us.\n\n\n\nBut, when we return to the truth of the gospel and we start to turn our focus on God, His Spirit works in us to align our thoughts, words, actions, and attitudes with His good ways. In the gospel, we see how Jesus died and rose again to make the way for us to be with Him, free from sin and death. Once we\u2019ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that He is always with us. He loves us, He will never leave us, and we never have to earn His approval. This truth changes everything. When we rest in God\u2019s love, we begin to do things out of our love for Him instead of to earn the approval of people. \u2022 Tynea Lewis\n\n\n\n\u2022 When are you most tempted to idolize the approval of the people around you? Consider spending some time in prayer, asking Jesus to show you where you\u2019re chasing after human approval, and to help you rest in His perfect love instead.\n\n\n\nAccept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7 (NIV)