Wednesday in the Word--Doing What Pleases God

The story is told of a young concert pianist who was performing for the first time in public. The audience sat captivated as beautiful music flowed from his disciplined fingers. The people could hardly take their eyes off this young masterful pianist. As the final note faded, the audience burst into applause. Everyone was standing, except one old man up front. The pianist walked off the stage disappointed. The stage manager praised the performance, but the young man said, "I was no good, it was a failure." The manager replied, "Look out there, everyone is on his feet except one old man!" "Yes," said the youth sadly, "but that one old man is my teacher." I wonder if we as Christians have the same desire for God’s approval as that pianist had for his teacher’s praise? Our Lord’s approving smile is what really matters. When is the last time you concerned yourself with pleasing God instead of pleasing others or yourself? His approval is the only one that really matters