The Praises of men will cost you something!
What’s going on beautiful people?! Good people and others. I pray all has been well with you.
In today’s blog I want to highlight how the “Praises of men are going to cost you something!”
We live in a world today where people worship the “praises” they receive from man over striving to receive the praises from our Master, Jesus Christ. In John 12:42 we see how the Pharisees, the “leaders”, at that time had ordered the people not to have anything to do with anyone who had faith in Jesus. Isn’t it amazing how the very people we worship, our leaders, have the power to influence us detrimentally? Oftentimes we miss the plot (trap) because we are so consumed with how we will be perceived by those we have given detrimental influence in our lives.
When we are willing to submit to man’s rule over our lives more than we submit to the rule of Jesus Christ in our life it cost us something. In the scriptures prior to John 12:42 we see where Isaiah had previously prophesied that people would not be willing to have faith in Jesus (John 12:36-38). The cost associated with not having faith in Jesus resulted in the people having blinded eyes, stubborn hearts, and missed opportunities to be healed (John 12:39-40). The people were just “following” after the orders given by the Pharisees. Those who despised the work Jesus Christ was doing in the world. Yet, it cost them so much.
In 2024, so many of us are “following” Pharisees who have no intention to direct you to Jesus Christ. We have become so fixated on receiving the praises of man that we are willing to risk our own sight, understanding and healing to be approved by man who cannot grant us access into heaven. Only Jesus Christ, our master, can tell us “Well Done.” (Matthew 25:23) Do not take this as me saying that man can not acknowledge the blessing that your presence or influence has had on them because that is not what I’m saying. What I Am saying is that man’s “Well Done” of your life has no impact on whether or not you get into heaven.
God is the one who knows our ending from our beginning (Isaiah 46:10).
Our world today has become more craftier in the ways we are influenced to our detriment. The “leaders” man chose are showing you that they do not have any real care in the world for your current condition. Struggling financially, barely able to provide a meal for your family, no security with open borders, and the list goes on. Yet, there are still so many people concerned about their image to man. It cost you to follow a “leader” whose sole (soul) intention is to keep you away from the very thing, the very person, that can heal you & give you a restful eternal life.
When our focus is on doing the work that God has intended for our lives, the smoke we receive from man means nothing. The praises we receive from man will hold no weight to make or break us. Good or bad we will be able to press on towards the mark. Scripture states in Philippians 3:14, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ.” The high calling of God!
What can man do unto you? (Psalms 118:6) God, Jesus Christ, is the only person you should be striving to receive praises from. I pray you don’t allow man’s praises to detrimentally impact you to miss out on the things that God would like to do in your life. Healing can be your portion. Faith is required. Faith in Jesus Christ. Do not fear what man can do to you. Fear the life you could miss out on by choosing not to have faith in Jesus Christ.
Love ya Later.