What Jesus Did : John 5:41-44 - Listening to the Wrong Folks
by Phil Ware
Listening to the Wrong Folks - John 5:41-44
"I don't want praise from you or any other human. But I know you—I know that you don't have God's love in you. I have come from my Father—I speak for him. But you don't accept me. But when another person comes speaking only for himself, you will accept him. You like to have praise from each other. But you never try to get the praise that comes from the only God. So how can you believe?" (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
Whose approval are you trying to receive? Peer pressure is powerful in the lives of teens, but if we are really honest, adults are even more susceptible to peer pressure. Look at designer fashions, hot cars, house styles, popular movies, top ten books, and a host of other areas. Can we stand up to the ridicule of others and stand with Jesus, or do we cave in, hide out, or give up our faith when it's unpopular? Sometimes our churches are stained glass museums filled with spiritually impoverished people afraid to speak up for Jesus because they're too concerned about what others think and say. Let's pray that we may be both bold and respectful with our faith in Jesus (see Acts 4:31 & 1 Peter 3:15-16).
Today's Prayer
Glorious Father, please give me courage to stand up for Jesus as much in the marketplace as I do when I am around other believers. Help my witness to be genuinely consistent as well as sensitive to those around me. Forgive me when I have worried more about what others think about me than I have about honoring Jesus as my Lord. In the name of your Son and my Savior I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
"If I tell people about myself, then people cannot accept those things I say about myself. But there is another person that tells people about me. And I know that the things he says about me are true. "You have sent men to John. And he has told you about the truth. I don't need a man to tell people about me. But I tell you these things so that you can be saved. John was like a lamp that burned and gave light. And you were happy to enjoy his light for a while. "But I have a proof about myself that is greater than John. The things I do are my proof. These are the things my Father gave me to do. These things show that the Father sent me. And the Father that sent me has given proof about me himself. But you have never heard his voice. You have never seen what he looks like. The Father's teaching does not live in you. Why? Because you don't believe in the One the Father sent. You carefully study the Scriptures. You think that those Scriptures give you life forever. Those same Scriptures tell about me! But you refuse to come to me to have that life {you want}. "I don't want praise from you or any other human. But I know you—I know that you don't have God's love in you. I have come from my Father—I speak for him. But you don't accept me. But when another person comes speaking only for himself, you will accept him. You like to have praise from each other. But you never try to get the praise that comes from the only God. So how can you believe? Don't think that I will stand before the Father and say that you are wrong. Moses is the person that says that you are wrong. And Moses is the one that you hoped would save you. If you really believed Moses, you would believe me. Why? Because Moses wrote about me. But you don't believe what Moses wrote. So you cannot believe the things I say."-- John 5:31-47 (ERV)
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/john/0416-wjd.html
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