IN THE PRAISES OF MEN: I WILL TAKE NO PLEASURE!

...John 12:43... for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

How perfect this scripture describes a generation of men and women, Christians to be particular. Who have in them an embedded prideful spirit, are lukewarm and are being driven into deception to think that when men praise you, God must be so glad for you. How unfortunate that Christians are not aiming at well done, good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:23) only to be in the limelight speaking of a God who does not receive glory from their lives. Of what importance, therefore, is it to live for God if He does not take glory from this very life? Of what value I ask, is a life that uses its strength and might in thinking they can do anything for God and not have Him, God Himself,  enthroned in their lives? Well, a decision has to be made by men and women, who profess God, that in the praises and glory of men, they will take no pleasure! If God cannot get glory from my life, it is not worth living the life itself!

There is usually a craving and a desire in the heart of a man for the praises of men and the moment a man savors in the moments he or she is praised by his fellow man, pride is planted in the heart of that person and pride will continually demand to be fed every time by this praises and what follows is that this kind of a man, who has manured the seed of  pride in their life, now sprouting and growing will always chase after one thing: praises. What does this mean? They will do literally anything to be praised. The more the praises, the greater the desire, the greater the desire, the more a man grows prideful. One thing you will find hence in the life of this man is that he or she never operates in the grace of God and their lives are a total disgrace. They have no wisdom and stagnation is what can be easily depicted in their lives why? because you first humble yourself before the Lord, then a lifting up follows (James 4:10). Look at the life of a man that thrives in the praises of men, it is undesirable in all ways. Our hearts as Christians are so deceitful such that we have taken up some of the spiritual disciplines like a prayer that causes our fellow men to praise us. How hypocritical are the lives of Christians today! We have taken up a life where we 'appear' to really be in love with God, when in a real sense what we are after is the praises of men. We no longer treasure Gods opinion as long as the men have said what is seemingly good and balms our hearts. Oh, what folly!

Please note that I do not in any way insinuate that you do not become influential...be influential but let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). It should be said of every follower of Christ that they have a good report and the only way to get it is when men tell you the same, absolutely good but why then does the scripture say woe to you when all men speak well of you in Luke 6:26? The greatest danger exists when a man endeavors to maintain a reputation that men give him. The devil is subtle and literally deals with our hearts shrewdly because what he does for this man or woman of God is instill fear in them. Fear that at one point, men will stop praising them and what do they end up doing? Doing that which men are pleased with and slowly losing touch of walking in the very divine will of God for their lives. It is disastrous to come to a place where one loses sight of their dependence on God to trusting in the frail strength of a man. Anything, literally even the tiniest thing that leads to self-exaltation is a direct means to your overthrowing from the place where you ought to dominate. That is exactly what happened to the fallen angel, who thought in his heart he could take the place of God: overthrown! The preacher said, a man is tried by his praise.

 What then? We must consistently deal with the flesh! Dealing valiantly with anything that is in us that desires to be elevated instead of God. The prideful spirit has to be dethroned in our lives such that all that revolves around our lives only yearns to bring glory to our Heavenly Father as an indication that He alone is enthroned in our lives. It is very possible to live a life that men look at and behold God, a life we live and men begin to out of the overflow of the Spirit in us glorify God, turn from their ways and obtain God as the possession of their hearts. Jesus Himself said He doesn't receive praises from men and in John 8:24 He says, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. See, what counts is this one thing: Is God pleased with your life? Does He get the glory from your life? We must come to the place of asking God like David, Search me, Oh God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24). This prayer can only be made by one that has decided in his or her heart, that my life is laid down for the Lord, all His, one that maintains the posture of a broken and contrite heart, one that is ready to lose everything that God dislikes so that they may obtain Him and all that He really is, one that is ready to allow the Lord to expose all wickedness and fill them with His very character!

Winding up: do not seek the praises of men at the expense of knowing God more. Never seek to be celebrated, seek the more for the Lord to be glorified in all ways at all times. Do not enjoy the applause of man, in it is a snare of the devil. Seek the heart of God, know His divine will for your life, let your life just portray Him! Just Him. I mean, nothing would give me so much joy than when a man looks at me and says Your life is what made me know the Lord! I desperately yearn to hear my Father say, well done, good and faithful servant. I desire not to make a name for myself but lift the name of Jesus. That my whole life will please the Lord! and so, I pray for you today, that you will not be caught up in the praises of men, but the Lord will take in glory from your life in Jesus name. Amen!

In the praises and glory of men, I will take no pleasure!! but in this will, I desire, that God is glorified in my life. Amen!

Love,
Imani 💕