Nov 22

Though Jesus had constant run-ins with the religious leaders of his day, the Pharisees, because he did not preach a religious reality that fit into their own conceptions, there were some among the leaders who did believe in him. They knew from what he pointed out to them in the Scriptures that he was indeed the Messiah, the one who was to come.

But because of the Pharisees and their power and their threat to put them out of the religious community, these believers would not publicly confess their belief in Jesus. John 12:43 passes God's sentence upon them:

"For they loved praise from men more than praise from God."

Incredible, absolutely incredible. God has created the entire universe by his understanding and power and dwells in unapproachable light of such majesty and beauty that it is beyond description, and offers to share the deepest secrets of the heart of his all-powerful and infinitely wise being -- and they prefer, instead to pander to the likings of mere men who have never created a dimension of space-time, who have no clue as to how the universe came to be or how it manages to sustain itself, and no notion of what true love and life is.

To pass up God's incredible offer of a deep relationship with him for such paltry associations with mere men is to commit the abominable sin of Esau all over again -- to sell one's soul for a mess of porridge. God save us from being such a fool!

Scripture for today: John 12:41-43
Thought for today: The praise of men cannot compare to the praise of God.
Prayer for today: I praise you, God. You are worthy of all my praise. May I never offer any of it to anyone else and may I never seek to be praised by anyone but you.

NOV 22