Genesis 4:6-7a,b And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.

I guess seeking approval is exactly this old. Abel’s sacrifice was respected and Cain’s was not. Yet notice here what God says to Cain, do well and be accepted. Respect of sacrifice and acceptable behavior are two very different things. Let me ask you this; where does approval come from, sacrifice or behavior?

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

This verse indicates approval is linked to behavior. I think we understand that instinctively. From childhood we seek to gain our father or mother’s approval. In school we seek the teacher’s or the coach’s approval. It carries on into our work life knowing that promotion comes if we work hard to win the approval of our bosses who write our reviews. It is grounded in the reward system itself.

While we live in the world we are not of this world. We are Kingdom dwellers and there is a whole different set of standards in the Kingdom.

2 Corinthians 10:18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

If we seek promotion in the Kingdom based on worldly standards, we try to commend ourselves to men. That doesn’t work. The Lord who bares your sins and knows your heart better than you ever will makes commendations. So how do we get His approval?

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

No Condemnation = Commendation