#soap # Galatians 01 ## Title: Play for the Coach, Not the Crowd ## Scripture: (Galatians 1:10) “Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!” (NET) ## Observation: In sports, it can be easy to get confused. The crowd will cheer you on when you do well and make a big play. However, they can easily grow restless when the game slows down and nothing seems to be happening. They like action and excitement. If you play for the crowd, you will always run into difficulty. The coach knows you and knows the game. He knows that games are not won and lost on the ‘big plays’ but the little things the crowd doesn’t notice. If you play for the crowd, you’ll soon lose perspective. If you focus on the coach, you will experience more joy in the journey and keep your life in balance. ## Application: Focus on pleasing God, not just people. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for being EASY to please. You want good things for us, and all Your laws are meant to keep us safe.