How Can You Believe?

 

'How can you believe, when you accept glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?"(John 5:44)

Jesus spoke these words to the religious leaders of His day. No doubt, He speaks these same words to not only today’s religious leaders, but also those in the pews AND those who no longer – for whatever reason – darken the doors of any church.

How can it be that so many of us are so busy trying to please each other, to get our daily ration of pats on the back, that we no longer think about (or even care about) pleasing God by obedience to His commandments concerning lifestyle and morality?

But hasn’t it always been that way? Ever since Eden when Satan seduced Eve into trying to become her own ‘god’ – the devil has returned again and again to the same playbook, to the same strategy.

Have YOU also fallen for his seduction? In my walk with Christ, I know I have stumbled more than a time or two trying to please others and rationalizing to myself my sin.

Christian! We all need to do better. Every day, we can do better. We must do better. And PLEASE, make no mistake about this: What the Holy Spirit through St. Paul said to Timothy, God also speaks to you and to me – regardless of our titles or our roles or our positions in the ‘church.’ If you are a true follower of Christ, and not a counterfeit one, then this message from God through Paul to Timothy is ALSO for you and for me:

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

Christian! Be sober in all things. Fulfill the work God has privileged you to do. And to you who have drifted away from Christ: Head back to where you belong! And start now – this moment – with your prayer of repentance.

Seek the praise that comes from the only One who matters – in this life and in the one to come.