He Withholds No Good Thing From Us

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Gal 1:10

     I received my end of semester reviews which were down some from the previous semester. In mulling over any changes I might have made, the only one that struck me was that I’d started sharing my faith along with Scripture at the beginning of class. Though I can’t be certain that this impacted anyone negatively, it struck fear in my heart – fear that somehow people wouldn’t like me because of the gospel. I sat in my office counting the cost and thinking over the alternatives. I could choose to leave God out of my teaching and no one would say a word. It would just be my little secret.
     Even though we’re a Christian university, we admit many non-Christian students. One of my increasing burdens this year has been the need to share Christ with them, not just in deed but in word. This was a huge step of faith as the Holy Spirit helped me to overcome fear of rejection, persecution and even worse – failure. But remaining silent, when God clearly showed me that I was here for reasons beyond teaching English, was no longer an option. With wobbly knees and a pounding heart, I made my journey out of the fear and into the freedom Christ had purchased for me – freedom and joy to proclaim the Good News without feeling ashamed of it in any way, freedom to speak the truth in love even if it means saying something others don’t want to hear.
     But like most people on this planet, I want people to like me. I really enjoy the warmth of knowing that others find me acceptable. As I sat alone in my office trying to justify my decision to leave God out of the classroom, Galatians 1:10 came to my mind, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” 
     I knew immediately what I had to do. It was a moment of surrender – one of those I experience when faced with a myriad of choices that run contrary to God’s will. I reluctantly held out my hands and offered up to him my reputation, my right to be liked, my intense longing to be successful. Like the apple in the garden, these desires gave promises that they couldn't deliver – worse yet, promises that would leave me feeling empty and grieved. In their place, I took the promises of God that he’s for me, that he withholds no good thing from me, and that by seeking him first I’m guaranteed the kind of blessings that benefit my soul and others. By seeking first his kingdom and righteousness he says that all the other necessary things will be given to me as well. It appears on the surface like suicide -- to risk everything the world defines as success in order to follow God and submit to his truth. But underneath is the Spirit's testimony regarding God's word that it's true and reliable. Once again, by faith and by his grace, I'm stepping out on the water and believing God.