BBD 03.02.04 Just Trying To Please

#1 · March 2, 2004, 10:40 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on March 2, 2004, 10:40 pm
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

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The Burning Bush Devotional

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03.02.04

Just Trying To Please

Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he
was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with
the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing
those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the
hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their
hypocrisy. - Galatians 2:11-13.

When I was 17 years old just trying to please turned a date into a
nightmare. Soon after leaving her home, Mary (Not her real name.), flagged
down some friends of hers and invited them to ride around with us. The only
problem with that was they had some beer they brought with them when they
jumped into my car. But I agreed because I just wanted to please. It was
then that they shared with Mary they had heard about a big party somewhere
and that it might be out at farm they knew about. We then headed for the
farm because I wanted to please Mary even though I knew better.

I found myself driving all over a pasture in the dark hoping I wouldn’t
drive into a hole of some kind. It was a little worrisome because this was
the first time I had driven my car since getting it back from the body shop
as the result of a little accident (I tried to jump a ditch but that’s
another story.). Since we didn’t find the “big party”, they thought it must
be at the lake and because I wanted to please, I headed for the lake. I was
surprised when we arrived at the location because there was a big drunken
party going on with a couple of hundred kids. About ten minutes after our
arrival highway patrolmen and lake patrol officers arrived to break it up.
Of course, when the officers showed up with lights and sirens I headed back
to my car along with Mary’s two friends.

To my surprise Mary was not at the car and by the time most of the kids had
left finally someone said they thought Mary and some other kids had ran off
on foot trying to avoid arrest. So, my new friends and the nice officers
waited around for a while. I finally asked and received permission for us to
form a search party to try to find them. About an hour later, we finally
found Mary and her friends and the officers then sent us on our way. We did
make it back to town and I felt a great sense of relief. At least until Mary
wanted to stop off at a parking lot where most of the people who had been at
the party had gathered. I knew better but because I wanted to please, I
stopped and Mary jumped out along with her two friends.

Everything seemed to be fine until Mary hurriedly opened the passenger side
door and said with much urgency that we had to leave, right then! Why?
Because she said, someone wanted to fight me. Why? Because they thought she
was their girlfriend, which was news to me. While I was still talking to
Mary, someone jerked open my door and grabbed hold of my shirt shouting
obscenities. My foot somehow slipped off the clutch and the jealous
"boyfriend" lost his grip and fell down. We took off and I headed directly
for Mary’s home and with great relief saw her to the door. When I turned to
walk back to my car I was dismayed to see the jealous boyfriend and a bunch
of his friends waiting and shouting. I had no desire to have another
discussion with the group and so I left town (I lived about 40 miles from
Mary's town.) with a little escort following until they finally lost
interest.

The next day I did check on Mary and it seems that while she was escaping
from the beach party she came into contact with some poison ivy and was
experiencing severe discomfort as a result. I really think that night ended
any chance of a relationship between us.

I could have saved myself a very unpleasant evening if I had just chosen to
say “no” and done what I knew to be right. But I gave in to my desire to
please Mary. However, it is not just kids that try to please and give into
peer pressure. Peter gave into pressure when some people he knew from
Jerusalem showed up at Antioch. Peter had been eating with the Gentile
Christians but because of the peer pressure, he then stopped. The apostle
Paul confronted Peter about this hypocrisy, which must have taken much
courage.

The next time you find yourself trying to “please” someone it might be a
good idea to examine your motives and the possible consequences. It may save
you from an unpleasant situation if you just choose to do what you know to
be right. I wish I had.

Copyright © 2004. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. On June 8, 1998 the email
version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.

There is now a webpage available at associate.com where the devotionals are
archived associate.com/groups/burningbushdevo. There is a complete
archive at the Burning Bush website and the address for the archive is
www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You may subscribe to the pure text group by sending a blank email to
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Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org

Please sign the GuestMap at The Burning Bush website. You can plant your
country's flag on the map and leave a message. You can find it on the front
page at http://www.theburningbush.org

The Burning Bush Devotional

(Over 11,000 subscribers in 75 countries)

03.02.04

Just Trying To Please

Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he
was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with
the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing
those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the
hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their
hypocrisy. - Galatians 2:11-13.

When I was 17 years old just trying to please turned a date into a
nightmare. Soon after leaving her home, Mary (Not her real name.), flagged
down some friends of hers and invited them to ride around with us. The only
problem with that was they had some beer they brought with them when they
jumped into my car. But I agreed because I just wanted to please. It was
then that they shared with Mary they had heard about a big party somewhere
and that it might be out at farm they knew about. We then headed for the
farm because I wanted to please Mary even though I knew better.

I found myself driving all over a pasture in the dark hoping I wouldn’t
drive into a hole of some kind. It was a little worrisome because this was
the first time I had driven my car since getting it back from the body shop
as the result of a little accident (I tried to jump a ditch but that’s
another story.). Since we didn’t find the “big party”, they thought it must
be at the lake and because I wanted to please, I headed for the lake. I was
surprised when we arrived at the location because there was a big drunken
party going on with a couple of hundred kids. About ten minutes after our
arrival highway patrolmen and lake patrol officers arrived to break it up.
Of course, when the officers showed up with lights and sirens I headed back
to my car along with Mary’s two friends.

To my surprise Mary was not at the car and by the time most of the kids had
left finally someone said they thought Mary and some other kids had ran off
on foot trying to avoid arrest. So, my new friends and the nice officers
waited around for a while. I finally asked and received permission for us to
form a search party to try to find them. About an hour later, we finally
found Mary and her friends and the officers then sent us on our way. We did
make it back to town and I felt a great sense of relief. At least until Mary
wanted to stop off at a parking lot where most of the people who had been at
the party had gathered. I knew better but because I wanted to please, I
stopped and Mary jumped out along with her two friends.

Everything seemed to be fine until Mary hurriedly opened the passenger side
door and said with much urgency that we had to leave, right then! Why?
Because she said, someone wanted to fight me. Why? Because they thought she
was their girlfriend, which was news to me. While I was still talking to
Mary, someone jerked open my door and grabbed hold of my shirt shouting
obscenities. My foot somehow slipped off the clutch and the jealous
"boyfriend" lost his grip and fell down. We took off and I headed directly
for Mary’s home and with great relief saw her to the door. When I turned to
walk back to my car I was dismayed to see the jealous boyfriend and a bunch
of his friends waiting and shouting. I had no desire to have another
discussion with the group and so I left town (I lived about 40 miles from
Mary's town.) with a little escort following until they finally lost
interest.

The next day I did check on Mary and it seems that while she was escaping
from the beach party she came into contact with some poison ivy and was
experiencing severe discomfort as a result. I really think that night ended
any chance of a relationship between us.

I could have saved myself a very unpleasant evening if I had just chosen to
say “no” and done what I knew to be right. But I gave in to my desire to
please Mary. However, it is not just kids that try to please and give into
peer pressure. Peter gave into pressure when some people he knew from
Jerusalem showed up at Antioch. Peter had been eating with the Gentile
Christians but because of the peer pressure, he then stopped. The apostle
Paul confronted Peter about this hypocrisy, which must have taken much
courage.

The next time you find yourself trying to “please” someone it might be a
good idea to examine your motives and the possible consequences. It may save
you from an unpleasant situation if you just choose to do what you know to
be right. I wish I had.

Copyright © 2004. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. On June 8, 1998 the email
version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.

There is now a webpage available at associate.com where the devotionals are
archived associate.com/groups/burningbushdevo. There is a complete
archive at the Burning Bush website and the address for the archive is
http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You may subscribe to the pure text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org and you can unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushdevo-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

You may subscribe to the html text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-subscribe@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushhtml-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Prayer Group. Send and receive prayer requests
to over 300 members. Send a blank email to: BBPG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Inspirational Group. Send and receive
inspirational material to over 100 members. Send a blank email to:
bbinspire-subscribe@welovegod.org

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Restoration and Recovery Group for those with
addictions or recovering from addictions. Receive devotionals and
inspirational material directed toward those with addictions. Send and
receive prayer requests. Over 200 members. Send a blank email to:
tbbrr-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Subscribe to the Intercede Life Group and pray for and help in practical
ways those who need help. To subscribe send a blank email to
interclife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. A closely related website is
Peoplefaces which seeks to help those in need
peoplefaces.ohzone.net/index2.htm