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Podcast Summary: The Daily Blade — Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

Episode #282: Joby Martin // Seeking Approval Or Serving Christ
Date: January 29, 2026
Main Passage: Galatians 1:10

Overview

This episode of The Daily Blade zeroes in on a single, powerful verse: Galatians 1:10. Pastor Joby Martin leads listeners through the tension between seeking human approval and living as a true servant of Christ. The message encourages Christians, particularly men, to root their confidence in Christ’s approval rather than the fleeting validation of others. The discussion is candid, challenging, and full of practical exhortation for men striving to apply God’s Word in daily life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power and Context of Galatians 1:10

Scripture Focus:

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
(00:30)
Paul, constantly criticized for his apostleship and his past, lays out a simple but hard-hitting question about his motivations—one that Joby says is central for every Christian leader.

2. Joby’s Personal Application

Joby shares Galatians 1:10 is the only verse he keeps on his desk, serving as a daily reminder and a checkpoint before teaching God’s Word.
Quote:

"Before I get up and teach this word, am I now seeking the approval of man or of God?"
(01:07, Joby Martin)
He underscores the temptation—even for leaders—to default to pleasing people rather than God, describing it as “a really silly, like middle school kind of question: do people like me?”

3. Eternal Perspective vs. Worldly Approval

Joby references Hebrews, reminding listeners of their coming accountability before God, “how [we] handled our life” and especially, for leaders, “how I led this church and how I handled his word.”
Quote:

"When I am tempted to do something or say something that is not in line with Christ but is in line with pleasing people, I think about that day where I stand before the Lord and have to give an account."
(02:01, Joby Martin)
He outlines the danger of letting people’s disapproval steer us off course.

4. Common Approval-Seeking Pitfalls

Joby lists real-life scenarios where approval-seeking hijacks godly leadership:
- Tiptoeing at home out of fear of emotional backlash (“Are you afraid of the emotions of your wife…?”)
- Prioritizing social media “likes and shares” over character and integrity.
- Valuing workplace annual reviews above the Day of Judgment.
Quote:

"That is an approval problem."
(03:07, Joby Martin — repeated in different contexts)

5. Freedom in Christ — The Paradox

The episode underscores how true freedom is paradoxically found by submitting to Christ, not by pleasing people or trying to control our lives.
Quote:

"The most free that you will ever be is when you shackle yourself to Jesus."
"The most free you will ever be is when you bend your knee to Jesus."
(03:34–03:44, Joby Martin)

6. Paul's Example of Freedom

Joby points to Paul’s example, especially from Philippians—his readiness to live for Christ or die, unafraid because his identity and approval are secure in Jesus (“to live is Christ, to die is gain”).
Quote:

"He was not just going to try to save his skin. He was going to live an obedient life to Christ."
(04:07, Joby Martin)

7. Christ’s Approval: The True Foundation

Joby wraps up by affirming that believers already have God’s approval in Christ:
Quote:

"You don’t really have to seek the approval of God because God already approves of you in His Son, Jesus Christ."
(04:30, Joby Martin)
He urges listeners to stop comparing themselves, stop feeding insecurity with the applause of men, and rest in their identity in Christ.
Quote:

"The essence of the Gospel is that His approval precedes your performance because by grace, you put your faith in Him."
(04:48, Joby Martin)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On being accountable to God, not men:

"I refuse to allow the disapproval of some other human beings to drive me to one day, when I have to stand before the Lord and give an account, say anything other than, ‘God, I was just trying to say what you said.’"
(02:17, Joby Martin)
On daily self-examination:

"Man, I dare you today to take a long look in the mirror and ask yourself the question: am I now seeking the approval of man or of God?"
(04:13, Joby Martin)
The Gospel’s assurance:

"What you do have to do, what I have to do, is quit comparing ourselves to everybody else...and look to Christ and Christ alone, who, if you put your faith in Him, He has already placed His approval on you."
(04:38, Joby Martin)

Key Takeaways & Challenge

Self-examination challenge: Take time today to ask yourself if your decisions are driven more by a desire to please people or to be faithful to Christ.
Gospel assurance: Remember, God’s approval comes through faith in Christ—not through human applause or self-earned achievement.
True freedom: Ironically, the most liberated you’ll ever be is when you fully surrender and "shackle yourself to Jesus."

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:20 — Introduction to Galatians 1:10 and Joby’s personal connection to the verse
01:07 — The pressure of approval and pastoral responsibility
02:01 — Focus on eternal accountability vs. human approval
03:07 — Practical examples of approval-seeking in everyday life
03:34 — The paradox of freedom in Christ
04:13 — Self-examination and the application challenge
04:30 — Assurance of God’s approval in Christ and Gospel essence
05:11 — End of content

Tone & Style

The hosts speak directly, practically, and with brotherly challenge, using vivid examples and a pastor’s earnestness. The language is inspiring and straightforward, heavy on masculine encouragement—“equip men for the fight”—with an undercurrent of Gospel hope and identity in Christ.

This episode is a must-listen (or read!) for anyone wrestling with people-pleasing, spiritual leadership, or the pursuit of true freedom in Christ.

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Transcript3 lines

[00:01]
A
Welcome to the Daily Blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the Spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.
[00:20]
B
All right. Welcome back. Day four of our deep dive into Galatians, Chapter one. We're just going to do one verse again. Paul has. He's been hounded. His entire ministry that. All kinds of accusations, all kinds of accusations that he's not a real apostle. For these reasons, because of his past or because he has stepped away from the group of the Pharisees. And in Galatians 1:10, he has this verse. For am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Guys, I have one verse on my desk, and this is the verse that I have on my desk. And let me tell you why I have this one and only verse on my desk. There are very, very many, many, many important verses. There's no doubt about that. But when I'm sitting at my desk and I'm putting my sermon together and I'm wrapping things up on a Thursday night, before 7:22 starts and I'm looking at the hard text in the Scriptures, I have to ask myself, before I get up and teach this word, am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? You see, I know everybody thinks they're tough, but we all can be tempted to seek the approval of man. We can all be driven by this really silly, like middle school kind of question, do people like me? Well, the reality is that one day we will stand before God and we will give an account for how we handled our life. The book of Hebrews says that I will stand before the Lord one day and give an account on how I led this church and how I handled his word. Let me tell you something that helps me. When I am tempted to do something or say something that is not in line with Christ but is in line with pleasing people, I think about that day where I stand before the Lord and have to give an account. And I have just pre decided that I'm going to say what the Bible says and I'm going to do what the Bible says. I'm not saying I'm perfect. I screw up all the time. But I refuse to allow the disapproval of some other human beings to drive me to one day when I have to Stand before the Lord and give an account. Say anything other than God. I was just trying to say what you said. So let me ask you this. Are you trying to please man? Like, are you afraid of the emotions of your wife? Therefore you tiptoe around at home instead of lovingly lead like you need to? That's an approval problem. Are you more concerned about likes and shares than character and integrity? That's an approval problem. Do you put more weight on your annual review than the Day of Judgment? That is an approval problem. You see, true freedom is only found in the Gospel. You see, Paul says, if I was trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. And this is very counterintuitive. But the most free that you will ever be is when you shackle yourself to Jesus. The most free you will ever be is when you bend your knee to Jesus. The most free that you will ever be is not trying to be in control of your own life, but hand the reins of your life over to Jesus and then act like it. And then one of the things that we're going to find here in the book of Galatians is that it is for freedom that we have been set free. And Paul is the most free man that you'll ever see live. In the book of Philippians, he has the audacity to say this. To live is Christ, to die is gain. And what that means is he was in prison and he was not just going to try to save his skin. He was going to live an obedient life to Christ. And he was saying, listen, if you guys kill me neat, I will be face to face with God Almighty. And I can't wait for that moment. And if you let me live neat, because I had a lot of work to do for the kingdom of God. Man, I dare you today to take a long look in the mirror and ask yourself the question, am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? And I've got really good news, is that you don't really have to seek the approval of God because God already approves of you in his son, Jesus Christ. What you do have to do, what I have to do is quit comparing ourselves to everybody else. Quit being so insecure in who we are that we feel like we need the applause of man for our own ego. And look to Christ and Christ alone, who, if you put your faith in him, he has already placed his approval on you. The essence of the Gospel is that his approval precedes your performance because by grace, you put your faith in him. Men. I encourage you quit seeking the approval of man and seek the approval of God. The way that you receive the approval of God is you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and with the Spirit of God in you, you walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen.
[05:11]
A
Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help, equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.