I just recently watched the Disney movie "Tarzan" and noticed something that many people would not have noticed through-out the movie. In the movie, as a boy, Tarzan did everything he could to "fit in" so that he would be accepted by the leader of the gorillas, Kerchak. Now, in the beginning, Kerchak had lost a child and was resentful of Tarzan being in the family. Tarzan's adopted mother nursed, cared and fed him like he was her own. Kerchak wanted nothing to do with the boy. After Kala, Tarzan's adopted mother, showed him that even though they were different on the outside, they were the same on the inside. The same love and compassion that Kala had, Tarzan had that as well.
So in one moment, Tarzan decided that he was going to do whatever it takes to get Kerchak's approval. He was going to try and earn his approval no matter what it was gonna take. SOUND FAMILIAR? When I was watching this, I thought to myself, "how many people are trying to earn God's approval?" Alot of people are always trying to "work or earn" their way into the Kingdom of God. I mean, here is Tarzan risking his life for the mere approval of someone who wants nothing to do with him. Now, God doesn't want us risking our lives for the sake of His approval. We have already recieved His approval through the Cross. I mean, this guy killed the enemy of the tribe, and the father still would not approve or find him worthy enough to be called "son." So here is the question. Why are we always out to try and prove ourselves to someone or something in order to fit in? Why do we feel that we have to "prove ourselves worthy" to the Heavenly Father, when in all actuality, we are not worthy? In the Old Testament, God required a yearly sacrifice to account for the sins of man and to approve them worthy of a relationship with Him. But, when God came to the Earth in the flesh, Jesus Christ, God had given us a way to be called "son or daughter." We were worthy of a relationship, entering His Presence and inherited the blessings of our Heavenly Father. So why are people still earning their way into the Father's grace?
Here's the answer..................condemnation.
Now some people may teach that you still have to prove yourself in order to gain the Heavenly Father's love. This is a false teaching. If we still had to prove ourselves worthy, then Jesus wouldn't had to lay His life down for you and me. I did a study within the church last year that proved to myself that I was the kind of person that needed to "buy friendship." Now, I couldn't do that with everyone I went to church with, but the truth is that most people will do whatever it takes to either make a friend or make an impression. We have to find "acceptance" in other people so that we can feel good about ourselves. But there is a way that we can avoid all of these traps.
It's called finding your self-worth in Christ. Many people today do not see the way God sees us. That is why we are always trying to do something to make us fit in whether its at parties, workplace or CHURCH!!! Yes even in church. My example of that is that for the first couple of years in attending church, I lied to fit in! Not the greatest place to lie in, but the truth is that I was alone with no family or friends around the area. I was also homeless and somewhat ashamed of my living conditions. As I grew in the things of God, I began to figure out who I was and could care less about what people thought about me. But that doesn't mean that I have completely gotten over these ideas.The truth is that we seek the approval of everyone these days. No matter who it is. Kids will always try and do something for their parents approval. Employees will always try and work themselves to death to earn a promotion, or a believer trying to earn the love of the Heavenly Father.
God proved His love for us when His Son went to the Cross and died for our sins. In the Scriptures, it says that "it pleased God to bruise His Son." What Father would be proud of beating his son to death. Jesus saw the Cross as a joy, because He wasn't seeking His Father's approval. He was seeing the approval of all man, not just Jesus. Through the Blood of Christ that was shed, Jesus had made a way that God had approved each and everyone of us through His sacrifice. Jesus became the approval of the Father.
For years I have battled with seeking approval of my own father because as a son, we want nothing more than to just honor and make them proud, but the truth is that my own dad loves me know matter what I do, say or what. I will always correct me and teach me in a strict way, but it doesn't change the love that he has for me. God is the exact same way. He loves me beyond all sins, past, present and future. And if I do make a mistake, His love never changes. Through the Blood of Jesus, God approved us to have a relationship with Him at anytime, no matter what. But like any good parent, we have to be open to receive the correction that He has for us. A like any son or daughter, we have to choose whether or not to receive that correction. Plain and simple...
So the next time you feel as if you need to "fit in", ask yourself this question? "Why am I seeking the approval of someone that did nothing for me in this life?" What did this person do for me?"
"When you see and hear what God says about you, then everyone else's opinion doesn't matter anymore!"
The end of the story of Kerchak and Tarzan came to the end when Kerchak realized that even though Tarzan was not like him, Kerchak had to die to come to that revelation. Don't wait that long or go to that extreme to find out who you are.
You are a child of the Most High God, who loves you deeply and wants nothing but the best for you and your family. See yourself the way God sees you.
That's all that matter in the End...
Now some people may teach that you still have to prove yourself in order to gain the Heavenly Father's love. This is a false teaching. If we still had to prove ourselves worthy, then Jesus wouldn't had to lay His life down for you and me. I did a study within the church last year that proved to myself that I was the kind of person that needed to "buy friendship." Now, I couldn't do that with everyone I went to church with, but the truth is that most people will do whatever it takes to either make a friend or make an impression. We have to find "acceptance" in other people so that we can feel good about ourselves. But there is a way that we can avoid all of these traps.
It's called finding your self-worth in Christ. Many people today do not see the way God sees us. That is why we are always trying to do something to make us fit in whether its at parties, workplace or CHURCH!!! Yes even in church. My example of that is that for the first couple of years in attending church, I lied to fit in! Not the greatest place to lie in, but the truth is that I was alone with no family or friends around the area. I was also homeless and somewhat ashamed of my living conditions. As I grew in the things of God, I began to figure out who I was and could care less about what people thought about me. But that doesn't mean that I have completely gotten over these ideas.The truth is that we seek the approval of everyone these days. No matter who it is. Kids will always try and do something for their parents approval. Employees will always try and work themselves to death to earn a promotion, or a believer trying to earn the love of the Heavenly Father.
For years I have battled with seeking approval of my own father because as a son, we want nothing more than to just honor and make them proud, but the truth is that my own dad loves me know matter what I do, say or what. I will always correct me and teach me in a strict way, but it doesn't change the love that he has for me. God is the exact same way. He loves me beyond all sins, past, present and future. And if I do make a mistake, His love never changes. Through the Blood of Jesus, God approved us to have a relationship with Him at anytime, no matter what. But like any good parent, we have to be open to receive the correction that He has for us. A like any son or daughter, we have to choose whether or not to receive that correction. Plain and simple...
So the next time you feel as if you need to "fit in", ask yourself this question? "Why am I seeking the approval of someone that did nothing for me in this life?" What did this person do for me?"
"When you see and hear what God says about you, then everyone else's opinion doesn't matter anymore!"
The end of the story of Kerchak and Tarzan came to the end when Kerchak realized that even though Tarzan was not like him, Kerchak had to die to come to that revelation. Don't wait that long or go to that extreme to find out who you are.
You are a child of the Most High God, who loves you deeply and wants nothing but the best for you and your family. See yourself the way God sees you.
That's all that matter in the End...
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