Applause For Self
Friday, May 8, 2020 Good morning, Lord V.O.D.: Colossians 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. M.O.M.: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 Today's reading: 2 Kings 7-9 John 1:1-28
Applause For Us
There is nothing that can damage a person's walk with the Lord Jesus like the applause or accolade of those around them. The history of man is littered with stories of how people have risen and fallen for the sake of a mass applause.
Personal pride does not belong to the Christian or in the Christian's life. There are all sorts of arguments against this statement, so let's look a few.
"We must have pride in our appearance." Our appearance is important as it pertains to our delivery of the Gospel being heard by audience-anything else comes from a false, self-need to be seen and appreciated. One should not wear a suit and tie into the jungle to preach.
John the baptizer lived out in the sticks. He wore no fine clothes. He said in John 1:26, "but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
John made it very clear that he was a simple man with an eternal message from God-not a message of his own- and even though he was sent by God , he felt unworthy to even touch the sandals of Jesus.
We have not listened very well. John 5:44 How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only? In our words: "How can we say we believe in Jesus when we look for our own praise and don't care about His?"
Do we care about God's praise or praise of God? 1. We have the complete love of God. We do not have to work for our salvation. We must seek His good pleasure and glory-for Him-not ourselves. Paul writes: "For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure."Philippians 2:13 Deuteronomy 10:21 He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise. 2. Romans 6:23-For all have sinned and come short of the Glory Of God... All things short of bringing God His glory is still sin-period. 3. The glory in our lives? Great-win awards; work hard; but whatever we do, we must do it for His glory. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ►So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Colossians 3:17 ►And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
God is the reason we can accomplish any good. He has given us the gifts, talents, and resources to gain glory for His kingdom-to earn the right to be heard on His behalf.
We serve Him-not self. The Bible says we cannot have two masters. Matthew 6:24 ►"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
We cannot serve God and self-call it what it is-if ours is not a worship of God, it is a vile worship of self-no matter how good it looks to the world.
We must step out of self and back into God's place of peace and humility-the place he has created for us where we bring Him good pleasure and glory-the place where we learn what real love for self is-loving ourself the way God loves us.
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven, Forgive me my pride. Teach me more humility. Gracious God amd merciful Father! In the name of Jesus, Amen