Word for the Day April 1
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. The only praise that should be sought is that which comes from the only God.