Dave’s Monday Blast – July 11, 2022
“Do we ever value man’s opinion over God’s?” One of my consistent prayers for those “in authority over us” is that they would care more about pleasing the God of the Universe than pleasing their demographic. Unfortunately many Christians fall into this same trap.
Our God is all-knowing, all-seeing, always-present; He is sovereign over all. The Lord “does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). This is why Paul reminded the Thessalonians that “we speak, not intending to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).
It’s easy for Christians to get caught up in how they look in their faith and to attempt to measure it solely by actions and words. But this approach centers on how people perceive our performance instead of what really matters. How can we learn to seek God’s approval above anyone else’s?
Pastor Charles Stanley comments: “Today people are looking for honor from all kinds of situations and circumstances, and they want others to applaud them and praise them and lift them up and exalt them. Do you know what? The only thing that really matters is that you and I have the honor of our heavenly Father. God honors those who serve Him. When you and I are willing to give ourselves to our living Lord, then our life is going to begin to be fruitful. Wherever He carries us to serve Him, He’ll be there because we have the promise of His presence.” Reread His promise in Matthew 28:20.
INTENTIONAL men of God know that receiving honor from God is sometimes part of playing a longer game. God will honor our obedience as we consistently do the right thing (1 Peter 3:16). We constantly need to be checking our motives, making certain they are in line with what pleases Him. To always be in line with His will and way we must walk humbly. The tricky part is simply that we can not walk humbly unless we are changed into His image (the very definition of humility), and we cannot reflect His image unless we spend time in His presence. It is in His presence that we are changed into His likeness; recall the story of Moses and what happened to his countenance when he spent time in the presence of God (Exodus 34).
Do you remember the account of Jesus’ first miracle that launched His ministry as recorded in John 2:1 – 7? In this account, it is obvious from the dialogue between Jesus and Mary that she fully understood just who He was. She knew that the solution to her present dilemma was found in her son. When Jesus told the servants to fill the water pots, they obeyed and filled them to the brim; an obedient heart is evidence that we have passed from death to life.
If we love Him, we will keep His commandments and fully delight to do His will. Our loving obedience to God will fill our water pots to overflowing, spilling over into the world with unexpected results. I am reminded of the comment by the great theologian and philosopher Augustine: “Love God and do as you please.”
A couple of questions to consider:
Do I do everything for God with my whole heart?
Do I obey His word in all areas or do I drag my feet in some areas, i.e. evangelism, fellowship, reading the word, prayer or giving?
Our prayer this day needs to be: “Father, may I delight to do all of your will. May I always put your agenda above that of this world.”
