John 12:42-43 (KJV)
Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
I notice that this passage makes not only an observation but also a judgment.
The observation is that many of the chief rulers believed on Jesus, but because they feared the Pharisees and the possibility of being put out of the synagogue, they would not confess Him.
The judgment is that they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
This reminds me of Paul's words concerning Demas in 2 Timothy 4:10.
“Demas hath forsaken me.”
That is an observation.
“Having loved this present world.”
That is a judgment.
Something similar appears in Psalm 36:1.
“The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.”
David observes the transgression of the wicked, and that observation speaks within his own heart, bringing him to the judgment that there is no fear of God before the wicked man's eyes.
But it is the judgment concerning those chief rulers that especially arrests my attention.
“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
What a sad thing!
Here were men who had been brought face to face with the truth concerning Jesus Christ. They believed on Him, yet were unwilling to confess Him because they feared what other men might think and do. They were more concerned about losing their place in the synagogue than about openly identifying themselves with the Saviour.
Think of it! Men could come so close to salvation and yet fall short because the approval of their peers meant more to them than the approval of God.
What a terrible exchange!
We have, however, the example of a man who made a very different choice.
The Apostle Paul had once occupied a respected place among the religious leaders of his day. He had their confidence, shared their convictions, and enjoyed the standing that came with being one of them.
But when Paul came to know Jesus Christ as his Saviour, all of that changed.
The men who had once respected him became his enemies. Those who had been his associates turned against him. The approval he had previously enjoyed was replaced with hatred and persecution.
Yet Paul did not turn back to regain their favor.
Instead, he wrote in Philippians 3:8:
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”
What a contrast!
The chief rulers would not confess Christ because they feared losing the praise of men. Paul willingly lost the praise of men because he had found something infinitely more valuable in Christ. The rulers clung to the standing they enjoyed among their peers, while Paul counted his former advantages as dung when compared with knowing the Saviour.
And that brings us to a question worth considering.
How much does the praise of men mean to us?
Are we willing to be identified with Jesus Christ when doing so costs us the respect of people whose opinions we value? Will we stand faithfully for Him when friends turn against us, when associates withdraw their approval, or when others think less of us because of our convictions?
It is a sad thing indeed when a man values the praise of men more than the praise of God.
May God help us to follow the example of Paul rather than the chief rulers, counting the approval of God worth far more than anything we might lose among men.
#PraiseOfGod #FaithOverFear #StandForChrist #ApostlePaul #DailyVisitWithGod
A Faith Greater Than Popularity: Choosing God Over Man
Whose Approval Matters Most to You?
The chief rulers feared losing the praise of men. Paul willingly surrendered it to follow Jesus Christ. What about us?
Are we willing to stand for Christ when it costs us the approval of others?
📖 Read today's Daily Visit With God and discover why the praise of God is worth more than anything this world can offer.
Visit https://marvinmckenzie.org for daily Bible teaching, practical encouragement, and sound instruction from God's Word.
Don't just seek the approval of others. Live to please the Lord!
For this and, more than 7300 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.
If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.
My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org
Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/
Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more
Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give.
No comments:
Post a Comment