Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Sacrifice of praise Thursday, March 26, 2009 John 5:39-40, 44 Jesus said to the Jews, "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life ... "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?" That is a great question, Jesus. I'd like to know how to obtain praise from God. What should I do? How can I make that "effort?" What does Jesus say? First of all. Ask the Holy Spirit to educate and illuminate my Bible study. Keep my mind open. Don't settle for the opinions of others, don't settle for my own opinions, especially if I come by them too easily. The Bible is God's word; if He doesn't show me how to read it, then I'll miss the big picture He wants me to see. Look for God in those words. Look for Jesus. As I wait for God's wisdom and clarity and ... voice, can I limit the praise I accept from others? How do I go about reducing my need for that praise? We praise each other to shore up our mutually crumbling foundation of worth and esteem. I'm okay, you're okay. We're good. Yea for us. I think the world of you. You are doing wonderful things. You're the best. Of course I should be skeptical when men speak from their own points of view. And they should be skeptical of me. What do I know about them? What do they know about me? God knows my going in and going out. He will, if I ask him, search my heart and know my anxious thoughts. He will lead me in the way everlasting because He can; He is everlasting. I am grateful when God lets me speak into someone's life. And over and over I realize God has spoken his words for me through my wife, my sons, my daughter, my friend, my parent, my mentor ... and plenty of strangers too. But it's not their praise, it's God's praise that I live by, that brings me life more than the breath I breathe. Only God's praise. That is worth everything. Save us, O Lord our God, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. And let us praise You. Let us all say, "Amen!" Praise the Lord. "; Add      Edit    Delete