Word for the Day April 1 Tuesday
By: Evang. Cascille
Hammack
"I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the
love of God in your hearts. I have come in My Father's name, and you do not accept Me; but if someone else comes
in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort
to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?" John 5:41-44
Jesus
spoke these words to those who make a habit of receiving glory from others. This causes them to make an idol of themselves
and places them outside of God's kingdom. It is very dangerous because the focus is taken off of Jesus and makes
faith impossible. This causes many to sin. To love the praise of humans is to disbelieve the gospel of Christ.
In Romans chapter 2, Paul discusses God's work of grace in the heart of believers that as a result
participate in God's divine nature and become capable of living a pure life separated from sin for God's glory.
Romans 2:28,29 says, "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.
No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written
code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God." The holy life is the outward sign of
God's work in the heart. It is obvious when this occurs, for the glory goes all to the Lord, not to men. Romans
2:24 explains how the sins of the Jews gave occasion for the Gentiles to blaspheme God's name, "God's name is
blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." Likewise, the sins of the churches and church leaders today gathering
praise for themselves enable the ungodly to blaspheme Christ's name and cause many to sin greatly.
