“Who are we trying to please?”
43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than
the glory that comes from God.
This verse is a summary of why some of the religious
leaders, although believing in Jesus, refuse to follow him publically. They
begin to believe Jesus’ words but they value the opinion of man over the
opinion of God. They are more concerned about how their colleagues will
ridicule them rather than what God thinks of them.
This temptation is the same for us. We tend to order our
lives based on what we see horizontally instead of what we see vertically. We
compare ourselves to others and how we will look to them rather than being
concerned about God’s perspective. The first thought that comes to our minds
when we consider following something that the Lord has told us is, “What will
everyone think about me if I do this?” Jesus calls us to radical behavior, to
radical faith, & radical followship of him. At times, this will seem to
others as foolishness. And so we have a choice, follow God’s heart, Word, &
will for our lives or do what others want us to do. One leads to life, the
other results in death. Private following of Jesus is not following Jesus at
all.
The glory that comes from man is temporary, but the glory
that comes from God is eternal. So are we living for the eternal or the
temporary?
What is shaping how we use our money? How we arrange our
families? How we spend our time? What we give our energy to? Are these things
shaped by a concern for what people think or what God thinks? Are they shaped
by what others are doing or by what we see our God doing? Are they in line with
his activity or theirs?
Something, or rather, someone, is shaping us. Who are we
trying to please?
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