…for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
Most people enjoy receiving praise when they feel it is deserved. And Jesus says it’s ok to love praise.
But from whom?
Here some people didn’t follow Jesus because they were afraid of what people would say about them and do to them. They loved the praise of people. God’s approval was not as important to them.
Many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue.
Is their fear understandable? How many of us even think about whether God is praising our lives or not? After all, it is people, not God, who are visible to us every day.
Not true. God is ever present with us. As certainly as the people we see with our own eyes every day. Jesus wants His students to understand that following Him daily brings the presence of God.
Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.
When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.
The Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it…So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
Knowing and sensing the Teacher’s presence in life brings a commensurate desire to please Him. Becoming more like our Teacher brings the praise of heaven.
And we learn to love the praise of God more than praise of man.
Are we doing the same today?
ReplyDeleteBut because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
How often do we miss opportunities to bring Jesus up in conversation because we fear others reactions around us? Fear ridicule? Fear rejection? Fear what others may think about us?
They didn't speak up in the Sanhedrin. Do we speak up in our daily lives to proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ?
Maybe that's something we need to take a serious look at!