"Outsider"

He’s just an old outsider,

Never felt that he belongs,

Never quit ‘cause he’s a fighter,

And wants to right life’s wrongs.

Can’t imaging if accepted,

If his peers gave their support,

More times than not rejected,

With some critical retort.

But, see, Christ is his advocate,

And God does the promotion,

No matter who discredits,

It’s the Spirit’s locomotion.

That sends him into mission,

And gives him what he needs,

Without no one’s permission,

It’s the way that he succeeds.

And if the Good Lord says it,

Though men may not approve,

The Lord gets all the credit,

When the Spirit makes His mov.

Don’t count out the least one,

Or the last one to come through,

Sometimes that decreased one,

Has something strong to do.

So like a horse that knows his job,

He’ll just move out and do it,

Won’t allow the thief to rob,

When the Spirit comes to cue it.

Heaven’s filled with such as these,

Who did what they could do,

Not concerned with man to please,

But only God, it’s true.

“ For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.” (1 Thessalonians 2:4, NLT)

It’s an age-old problem. People compromise the truth because they so desperately desire the approval of others. But every God-called person has to come to grips with the fact that if they follow Jesus and do His will, they have to get over men’s approval. It’s an either-or proposition. Even when fellow-believer don’t encourage us the way they should, it’s beside the point, because we live only to please the Lord. He knows our motives and all we want or need is His smile. Remind yourself.

Lord, help us live to please only You, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bruce Greene, used by permission. Thanks, Bruce, and God bless you.