God's Stamp

Act 11:21 God was pleased with what they were doing and put his stamp of approval on 

	it--quite a number of the Greeks believed and turned to the Master. 


	There is such a source of motivation in the hope of approval. There is also a great 

discouragement in the removal or lack of it. Driven one way or another by its place in our 

life, our appearance, standard of living, and status in life can be a direct indication of how 

we have allowed approval to effect our consistent personal choices. As there is a rising to 

the levels of excellence and achievement that the right choices yield, there is a stamp of 

approval awarded by each area to which efforts have been focused. We may be given a 

position in leadership, honored with a title or some initials after our name or provided 

with an income that directly reflects on our diligence to gain the necessary approval. 

There may be a social level that is attained as we are allowed to hang out with those of 

similar status. Our health and appearance directly reflect the diligence we have given to 

exercise, diet and physical maintenance. While there may be unjust disapproval given 

after great effort has been expended, there is a certain probability that, committed to 

complying with the necessary requirements, there will be an honoring of our efforts with 

the appropriate stamp of approval. 


	Living in the wonder of His glory and experiencing the abundant life that is ours 

in Christ, there is much fruit that our righteous living will yield. There is no doubt that, as 

our nature is more and more reflective of His, our walk will take us to high levels of 

excellence and achievement. We will know and experience approval from all the areas to 

which we've applied ourselves. We will naturally obtain the awards of diligence. There 

will be a stamp of approval on our lives from the world, as we are perceived to be worthy 

of it. 

	While there is an assurance of the world's stamp of approval, there is another 

stamp from our heavenly Father that can really be the overall driving force of our life. 

Our efforts may bring us position, titles and wealth, but if these are the motivation for our 

life, there is a failure to know the higher purpose in attaining His greatest stamp of 

approval. As we press towards this higher calling in Him we are pressing towards the 

approval that is awarded in the turning of lives from the way of darkness to the way of 

light in Him. The treasure He values much more than any temporal thing that may be 

attained in this life is the treasure of a life that will transcend any of the limitation of this 

world. As our values become more like His, the hope of attaining this evidence of 

approval will become the motivation of our life. We will most certainly attain all the 

other things as they are inevitable in a righteous life, but the true motivation that drives us 

on will be a hope for the Father's stamp of approval in lives being turned to Him. 

Everything else will be counted as loss compared to this prize. Where will this hope take 

us? - To a truly fulfilled life in Him. 



Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Phi 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be 

	otherwise minded, God shall reveal this unto you. 



4/22/04