Pleasing

Who do you worry about pleasing? Do you order your life around them? Do you make decisions based on what these people will think? Do you hold yourself back because you are afraid of what it will cost you to pursue what you hold dear, to pursue your dreams, your pursue desires? Is that something that we should even give our attention to?

By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, "He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends." Their grumbling triggered this story.
"Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn't you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, 'Celebrate with me! I've found my lost sheep!' Count on it—there's more joy in heaven over one sinner's rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue."

Luke 15:1-7

It appears that Jesus was not worried about what the religious people thought about the friends he was making. As a matter of fact, there anger triggered a story that said that you may not understand what I am doing, but I am going to do it anyway and I hope you celebrate with me rather than get upset that it is not the way you want it.

I am beginning to really learn how often I place the pleasing of others over the pursuit of what God has placed in my heart. I am coming to a place of understanding about how often and how powerful this can be for me, so much so I think my best friend is going to down me for something because it may be wierd. Celebrate our freedom in Christ together and stop worrying about what others will think of that dream inside of you and just go do it. You will find joy out of that pursuit a hundred times more pleasing than the joy you may get out of pleasing others. There is a quote that I have grown to love that says that I would rather be hated for who I am that loved for who am I not.

Namaste'