June 14: Honor from God

I do not receive honor from men.  But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.  I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.  How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?   (John 5:41-44 — New King James Version)

Jesus’ most powerful and persistent enemies were the Pharisees and Sadducees, the two main religious groups among the Jews.  There were a few good men among them, but practically all of them were men like Jesus describes here.  They did not have the love of God in them; they were not motivated by that at all.  They did not sincerely seek the will of God.  When Jesus came speaking and doing the word and works of God, they were angry and jealous.  They were so far from God that they did not recognize the Son of God when He came.  Their main motivation was self-promotion and receiving the honor and praise of men.  They made no effort to seek God's honor or to please Him.

It’s amazing how much religion, and how much Christianity, is based on the desire for men's praise.  It is frightening to see what so-called Christians accept when it appeals to their pride or exalts them or another human being. 

We have to be different!  We have to seek the honor that comes from God alone.  If God is pleased, then what men think should make no difference to us.  And if we really serve Jesus with all our hearts, and seek only His honor, most people will not be pleased with us.  But what difference does that make?  Jesus said, “I do not receive honor from men!”

Now take a good, hard look at your life.  Are you making every effort you can to receive the honor that comes from God?  Is your goal in life to please the Lord Jesus Christ?  Remember that He once said, “What is highly admired by people is revolting in God's sight,” (HCSB).  In almost every way, the world and its system are opposed to God.  But we are citizens of another Kingdom — of the eternal Kingdom of God.

“How can you believe…?”  The last sentence of this passage suggests that a person’s belief in God is called into question whenever he favors the world’s honor above God’s.  We can say that we are Christians and attend church and even be good people, but if we do not have a drive to seek God’s honor above everything else, we put our eternal salvation at risk.  I know it’s hard.  Ever since we were toddlers we’ve been struggling for recognition and acceptance by the world around us, but God challenges us to go further and seek what will truly transform our lives: the honor of God. — There’s no time like the present to start.