Devotional Christian

In the Palm of My Hand

Patricia Day — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:00:15 +0000

Thud! Something hit the glass and I guessed it had to be a bird.

Looking outside, sure enough, there on the ground was a goldfinch, lying on its back – stunned!

Not wanting to leave it there, I went outside, picked it up and gently stroked it; all the while speaking softly and keeping my hand open but cupping it safely, hoping it would recover.

Perhaps, fifteen minutes later, it did a little jump, looked around and flew into a nearby tree. It sat for a while and then flew higher. It was restored and seemingly, OK. Thank you Lord.

In similar fashion, God too, has our best interests at heart. He has each one of us, who believe in Him and His Son Jesus Christ, in the palm of His Hand. Rejoicing in us, and guarding our welfare.

Let us find a quiet place and speak softly to Him. Let us give Him time to keep us close while we recover from whatever ails us. Thank you Lord, that You care so much for each one of us!

Isaiah 49:16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. (NIV)

Prayer: Father God. The events of life can stun us at times, and we stagger and fall as we attempt to recover. Will You keep us cupped in the palm of Your Hand and speak softly, leading us to take the right next step. Thank you, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

PATRICIA DAY

http://pattersmatters.wordpress.com

Harbingers of Hope

Dee Dee Wike — Fri, 11 May 2012 05:05:31 +0000

How does one stay positive in a negative world? Is it possible to find hope in the midst of heartbreak or make sense out of that which we are not meant to understand? Where are the happy endings we read about in fairy tales?

During my quiet time this morning I prayed for many friends who are suffering with cancer. Why are so many people sick? Just in my church, people are coming down with difficult to diagnose illnesses which are depleting their strength and energy and baffling their health care providers. Others are simply so discouraged that they cannot function. Any sense of purpose they might have has been overshadowed by the constant distractions of dealing with job and financial stress, relational conflict, and the physical and emotional drain they feel as a result.

Sometimes the unthinkable happens to innocent victims. The woman and three girls pictured here were recently abducted from their home by a family friend. That “friend” murdered the mom and older sister before hiding out with the younger two. Although the two younger daughters were found alive and the kidnapper is no longer a threat, these girls have lived through a nightmare that has forever changed them. Please pray for Alexandria, Kyliyah, and their dad as they put back together the shattered pieces of their lives and bury their loved ones.

Even the little stresses of life — broken appliances, flat tires, unruly children — can come at us from a dozen different directions and leave us feeling battered and bruised. The molehills become mountains which we are ill-equipped to climb. How can we live joyfully when we would rather crawl in bed, pull the cover over our heads, and sleep through the unpleasantness of it all? How can we offer hope to others when we have so little of it ourselves?

The answer is simple really. One word. God’s Word. As we read the Bible, God reveals himself to us. He reveals his promises for peace (Isaiah 26:3), provision (Philippians 4:19), healing (James 5:16), salvation (Romans 10:13), protection (Proverbs 2:8), and deliverance (Psalm 3:8), giving us hope in the bleakest of circumstances. As God reveals himself to us, we see that he truly is loving (1 John 3:1), all-powerful (Mark 1:7), all-knowing (Psalm 139), capable of doing immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). We learn that God loves us so much that he gave everything, sacrificing the very life of his only Son so that we could live free from the death penalty our sins deserve (John 3:16). Because of God’s promises, we have hope — the assurance that he will never leave us or forsake us (Joshua 1:5), that he will supply all our needs (Matthew 6:33-34), that he will save those who call upon his name (Acts 4:12), that he will forgive us when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9), that he has a plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11), that he is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), and that he is preparing a place for those of us who have received his free gift of salvation (John 14:2-3), in heaven where there are no more tears and no more suffering (Revelation 21:4).

If you don’t have hope, read God’s Word and ask God to reveal himself to you. If you know God, then stand on the promises of his Word in every circumstance of life. Pray that God will use you to make a difference in the lives of those around you. That is a prayer that God will answer because he knows we need more harbingers of hope!

Faithful and True

Linda Hull — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:05:13 +0000

After Jesus had risen, He gave the Apostles a mission, commanding them to “teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19b, KJV). Their mission took them many places. The Book of Acts, written by Luke, tells the story of Peter’s ministry. Peter after having denied Jesus, became a faithful and true servant. What is most interesting is the reaction of the people to that message.

After Pentecost, Peter became the chief spokesman, speaking with authority to the crowds in Jerusalem. Luke tells us many people received his testimony and were baptized. The body of Believers began to grow and grow. Acts 2:41 tells us as many as three thousand people responded positively to Peter’s message all on the same day! Peter not only preached, but he performed miracles of healing. The account of what happened in Jerusalem is found in Acts 3-5.

Peter and John went to the temple, but were delayed in entering by a man lame from birth who was begging at the gate. Peter and John had no money to give him, but Peter commanded the man “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6) When Peter helped him up, the man began leaping and walked with them into the temple. People were astonished and rejoiced, praising God. People gathered. Peter had an audience so he began to speak of Jesus and His resurrection, calling on them to repent and believe in Jesus.

While Peter was speaking, the priests and Sadducees gathered too. They were not happy to hear Peter telling the people about Jesus. Peter and John were grabbed, arrested and put in prison. Yet five thousand people believed their message. The next day, they were brought before the high priest, Annas and Caiaphas and others. Peter again spoke the truth, naming their sin of rejecting Jesus. It became clear to the priests and Sadducees they couldn’t deny the miracle for fear of incurring the ire of the people. So they chose to rebuke them, ordering them to stop teaching in the name of Jesus, and sent them on their way.

More and more people sought Peter for healing. The high priest and Sadducees were irate, and again put Peter and John into prison, but an angel let them out in the night. Where did they go? To the temple of course!

Again, the high priests and Sadducees were angry because Peter and the Apostles continued to teach in the name of Jesus. Peter gave a wonderful answer we should also heed. He said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29b)

This time they were beaten and told not to talk about Jesus, but they continued to preach.

We hear of many accounts of Christians being persecuted, tortured, and killed for their faith in Jesus today. The name of Jesus still incurs great wrath. Yet through it all, the message of salvation continues to be spread. Faithful and true are His servants who continue to teach and preach about Jesus, calling all to repent and believe that they might be saved from eternal damnation.

What was the end for the disciples? All but John were martyred in horrible ways. They knew they would face the wrath of man, but they did not give up. Let us also be found faithful and true when we stand before our LORD to receive our reward in Heaven.

On or Off! Light or Darkness?

Patricia Day — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:39:53 +0000

Deuteronomy 28:66 Your life shall hang in doubt before you; you shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life. (NKJV)

On one of my recent excursions into town, I had a disconcerting moment. The dashboard, in my car, suddenly went dark. My heart sank, because later in the day, if I didn’t get it fixed, I’d be driving with no direction from the dials.

My husband tried to reassure me that it was only the automatic light sensor (or equivalent – bear with me here, I’m not a mechanic) that caused the lights to switch off it was not cause for a garage visit. I know the lights come on and then off, according to the light of day – but this time it seemed the lights had failed for no apparent reason. Hence my alarm!

After my Bible study group ended that evening, it was with bated breath that I left, got into my car and started the engine. Of course, I was half expecting darkness to confront me (from the dashboard), but thankfully, there was light. Whatever had caused the earlier glitch now seemed fine. Where there had been darkness, now there was light. What had switched off was now on again. In my heart I could not rest until I saw the lights.

As we journey through life, there are times we travel through darkness and many others where light prevails. Our faith suffers on and off times and we struggle with issues that are so overwhelming and they plummet us into a dark or a doubting place.

We are reassured that God will guide us through these dark times, and will bring us through to a place of light. Our faith can be switched on again, when we follow direction from Jesus Christ.

Job 22:27-28 You will pray to Him, and He will hear you. And you will keep your promises to Him. Anything You decide will be done, and light will shine on your ways. (ICB) International Children’s Bible

So, where are you today? Are you switched on or off? Do you trust God’s direction? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Do you trust that He can provide all that you need?

Prayer: Abba. We need Your Son, Jesus Christ, in our lives, because only He can bring light into the darkness of our lives. Where our faith has switched off we want to switch it back on. We want to stop doubting You and start trusting You. We can only do that with Your help. So please refresh our ON buttons today. We choose light. Amen.

PATRICIA DAY
Innisfil, Ontario

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Author of: Eleanor’s Story – A Stolen Childhood

A True Friend

Dee Dee Wike — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:34:00 +0000

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” — Proverbs 18:24

Friends come and go with the passing of time. Some friends are lifelong; others are friends only for a season. Some friends will always hold a special place in our hearts even though their love for us may have changed or diminished. Each of us has experienced friendships that fall into at least one, or perhaps all, of these categories.

As we consider our relationships with others, we would do well to ask, “What kind of friend am I?” Am I a fair weather friend who will be there for someone else only when it is convenient for me, or am I a true friend who is sincerely interested in the well being of another individual, regardless of the time and effort it costs me to nurture the friendship? If we are honest, most of us would admit to being disappointed by friends at one time or another. At times, we ourselves have been guilty of the same offense.

Earthly friendships are complicated because human beings are complicated, imperfect creatures. Nonetheless, there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother, and his name is Jesus.

Jesus is faithful, kind, and loving. He sees us just as we are and loves us, warts and all. When I can’t call on anyone else, I know that I can call on him. I know that he will never, ever stop being my friend and that he will always be with me. His Word assures me of that. Jesus has loved me with an everlasting love that is not dependent on my employment, my financial status, my outer beauty, my sense of humor, or my availability to provide a service or favor. If my circumstances change, Jesus remains faithful, true, and constant. Never too busy for one of his own, he talks to me and is always glad to hear my voice.

What a friend we have in Jesus! Oh, that we would be more like him in our own friendships!

The Falcon and the Songbird

Patricia Day — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:12:15 +0000

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (NKJV)

The song bird swooped and soared, singing as it went oblivious to hazards above. It was in territory it flew often. It felt safe.

The falcon, high in the sky, looked down. It was watching for prey, while flying the skies. There would be no safety, beneath its wings.

The song bird continued its joyful flight until suddenly, it was silenced! The falcon had spotted it, dove, struck and captured. Now the little song bird was in its talons, being deprived of freedom and fighting for its life.

Satan wanders the earth, while we continue our daily lives. We are not seeking anything in particular, just living as we know how. We are just trying to find our way in life. On the other hand, the enemy, Satan knows exactly what he wants. He wants prey! He wants to destroy anything good or beautiful! He is looking for weakness, complacency, innocence – he wants to defile and degrade, with his evil ways.

Stalking the unwary, he easily spots his victims. He strikes and attempts to destroy. The enemy cannot tolerate song for the sheer joy of it! Be on your guard and do not be tempted into unknown territory, because he will find you. He never misses an opportunity to conquer.

God, on the other hand, seeks to bring us safety, and joy beyond our comprehension. He wants us to sing and to be happy. He desires to give us more than we can ever imagine. But we have to choose Him and live His way; a way that is safe and forgiving, not destructive.

Psalm 36:7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. (NKJV)

Patricia Day
Author of Eleanor – A Stolen Childhood (in process of publication)

http://pattersmatters.wordpress.com

Is Plastic Surgery a Sin?

Dee Dee Wike — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:42:14 +0000

While reading an article in Ladies Home Journal about the increase in cosmetic procedures these days, the following question came to mind: Is plastic surgery a sin? I am not saying it is a sin, nor is this post an assault on plastic surgeons, patients, or cosmetic procedures. So put down your sticks and stones, please. I happen to like my face (for the most part!). Besides, how do you know I haven’t been nipped or tucked?

People have cosmetic procedures for all kinds of reasons. Although there is a tendency to associate plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures with low self-esteem and vanity, for some it is a medical necessity. Cancer and burn victims, accident victims, and those with birth abnormalities such as cleft lip can benefit not only physically but emotionally from reconstructive surgery.

It is no secret that we live in a society which has a standard of beauty which differs greatly from God’s standard. One only need look through the pages of a magazine or watch a TV commercial to see what the world’s standards are. It doesn’t take more than a glance at someone beautiful or a critical word about our own appearance to develop a negative self-image. Once that happens, we may decide that the only way to solve our dilemma is to alter our appearance so that we will look and feel younger or be better able to compete with those who seem to have inherited all the beauty genes.

Every one of us wants to look our best. I won’t even go out of the house without penciling on eyebrows and slapping a little color on my lips. Truth be told, I would probably even consider an eyelid tuck or neck lift if money were no object. For now, though, I have to settle for my age-fighting skin care regimen and Photoshop to get the laugh lines (I refuse to call them wrinkles) out of my face.

Whatever our reasons or methods for achieving a more youthful or glamorous appearance, we occasionally need to be reminded that God loves us just the way we are. Psalm 139 tells of the care God took when he created each of us. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (vs. 13-14). Yet many of us feel inadequate, inconsequential, and insecure unless we are tattooed, tucked, enhanced, or plucked. God never intended us to feel that way about ourselves and he wants us all to be mindful that he loves us, warts and all. We can try to outrun the clock or turn back the effects of time on our bodies, but we can never outrun God’s love or do anything to ourselves to make him love us more than he already does.

Here are a few verses regarding beauty that may be of interest or encouragement to you:

Esther 2:12 – “Before a girl’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics.” Can you say “spa treatment?” Even in Esther’s day, physical beauty was highly esteemed and labor-intensive.

Proverbs 31:30 – “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” This is one of my absolute favorite verses in Scripture. As a fifty-one-year old woman, I know that beauty is fleeting. But when I look into the mirror, not just at my face but into my eyes, I see a woman radiant with love for her God. Mind you, I look more radiant when I have taken a little time to care for my skin and enhance those eyes with a little mascara! It is said that “beauty is skin deep” and that “the eyes are the window to the soul.” Next time you gaze at yourself in the mirror, look into your own eyes and see if you don’t see some hidden beauty just beneath the surface.

1 Peter 3:3-5 – “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.” The saying “pretty is as pretty does” still applies today. The most beautiful woman or handsome man on the planet can suddenly lose all appeal when their behavior is ungodly and their words are venomous. The prettiest person you know may not be nearly as beautiful inside as you are.

So, is plastic surgery a sin? Probably not. But the underlying motivators of pride and fear can be. Ask God to show you if there is some area of your heart that needs a makeover then focus on what his Word says about true beauty. You may suddenly realize that you’re more beautiful than you ever imagined!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).

New Life!

Patricia Day — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:42:32 +0000

Ephesians 5:8 – 8 You used to be like people living in the dark, but now you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the light. (CEV)

3 John 1:4 – 4 Nothing brings me greater happiness than to hear that my children are obeying the truth. (CEV)

This time, last year, we had chickadees nesting at the side of our home. They were making use of a nesting box in a small stand of evergreens, protected from predatory attack and shaded from the elements.

It was such a joy to hear and watch them and I greatly anticipated the day the new little ones would be seen. However, sad to say they left without my having the opportunity to see them; that, or perhaps they did not hatch. I had to forego the joy of watching little ones emerge and mature.

God must also, experience sadness when His new little ones (born again Christians) fail in growth and maturity. He must watch us, with great anticipation and joy, come to His home through salvation, only to have us fail to grow.

Perhaps, a lifestyle that excludes Him is a bigger magnet, or a mindset that causes us to ‘think’ we can still manage life and don’t need Him. We then move further and further away, until one day we’re gone! He no longer hears nor sees us, no longer has fellowship with us. How sad He must feel to watch us; hoping to see us grow and become His free children only to lose us to a life without Him.

Mark 10:15 – 1 5 I promise you that you cannot get into God’s kingdom, unless you accept it the way a child does.” (CEV)

Matthew 18:3 – 3 Then he said: I promise you this. If you don’t change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. (CEV)

Prayer: Father God, we ask and pray that we always choose to be close to You. That we choose to stay in the shadow and protection of Your wings. In Jesus mighty name, Amen

Patricia Day

more at: http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Some Storm!

Patricia Day — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:42:17 +0000

Isaiah 4:6a …. for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain. (NKJV)

The winds increased in intensity, and the rain suddenly became a deluge! The storm hit quickly and ferociously.

My family and I were vacationing on the shores of Lake Huron. The weather had been perfectly calm and warm, for the first few days we had been at the cottage. Then out of the blue the storm arrived. It became so intense, we wondered if the cottage would remain standing – it literally shook, as the gusts of wind struck.

My husband planned on joining us for a few days, and this was the day he was driving to be with us for the weekend. It would prove to be a challenging journey.

The cottage survived, but my husband’s journey was one of treacherous driving conditions, road closures, downed power lines and torrential rain. He nevertheless persevered and arrived safely, even if he was much later than he planned to be.

The tale he told was a shock! This storm was in fact a tornado! It had caused major damage to the Bruce Peninsula. We were a few miles from where it had hit. We were, therefore, very thankful to have been spared the worst of the storm.

The spiritual journey we travel through life can be hit with many unexpected storms. Some are slight causing little obvious harm, some however can be devastating – bringing illness, job loss, relationship breakdowns, financial losses – all of which, leave debris in our lives. We can be overwhelmed with these events and wonder how on earth we will survive. God promises a safe place, in which we can shelter when times get tough.

The Bible is filled with passages of hope and refuge, full of wisdom to give each of us the right next step, that will help us survive those times.

Isaiah 25:4a …… a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm (NKJV)

It can be a challenge to read and trust the words. Harder still, to have faith that they can make a difference. We want to hang on to our stuff, because if we let go we’re afraid of the consequences: but letting go is what God wants us to do. He cannot step in and help calm our storms, if we choose to block His way with our doubt.

So let’s take a deep breath and LET GO! Let go, and let God take control. He is the only One able to bring calm into our storms. Let’s be able to say, ‘Whoa, that was some storm but thank I God, because He brought me into a calmer place’.

Prayer: Father, we all suffer from troubles. Some are small while others tend to be enormous and out of our control. That is when we want You to take over and be the bringer of calm and resolve. Thank you, for all You have done in the past, what You are doing now and for what You will do in the future. Amen

Patricia Day

http://pattersmatters.wordpress.com

See a photograph of a stunning sunset, taken after this storm. BruceGreySimcoe website.

Have You Washed Any Feet Lately?

Dee Dee Wike — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:00:30 +0000

Have you washed any feet lately? Now that’s an odd question for someone to ask, isn’t it? Recently I had the opportunity yesterday to wash someone’s feet, figuratively speaking, and it wasn’t such a bad experience. Not only did I benefit from the satisfaction of having been obedient to the Lord and of service to my parents-in-law, but I also came up with a handy car cleaning tip that I thought I’d pass along.

My octogenarian in-laws relocated to our area from across the state last summer so my husband and I could keep a watchful eye on them and take care of them as they age. As you would expect, there have been some health issues requiring trips to the doctor and errands requiring the occasional chauffeur (that would be me). When my father-in-law called late the other night to ask me if I could be available to drive him home from the dentist after oral surgery (in case he couldn’t drive himself), I told him that I would cancel my plans to attend Bible study so I could be available. The interesting kink in all this was that my husband also informed me at the last minute that he was leaving town early the next morning (the day my father-in-law needed me on standby). With my son driving to school two counties away in my car and my daughter needing her usual ride to school, transportation suddenly became an issue. In order to be on standby for my father-in-law I would need to borrow my mother-in-law’s car, just in case I was needed.

With a beautiful morning beckoning me to wash her dirty car, I decided that I might as well have at it. Although the interior wasn’t too messy, the exterior needed a lot of attention because the car had been parked under trees and had ants crawling in the driver and passenger front door jams, which were packed full of leaf litter. With my husband’s shop vac, some Murphy’s oil soap, and a bucket of water I set to work on her car, washing the body and cleaning leaves out of places I didn’t even know existed on automobiles! After about two and a half hours, it looked so much better, except to the now homeless ants (or what few remained after the rest were consumed by the shop vac). Although I knew my mother-in-law would probably never notice that the car had been cleaned, I knew that God would notice and suddenly washing her “feet” became an important mission for me.

In the thirteenth chapter of John, we read the account of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. He said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (vs. 14-15).

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5-8). If Christ was willing to do that for us, then the least we can do is wash someone’s feet every now and then!

Now, for the helpful hint – You know that awful road grime that accumulates in the wheel covers? The next time you clean your car, think of the wheel covers as teeth and the road grime as tartar then try doing what I did with my mother-in-law’s wheels below. Wet the wheel covers, then lather them with your washing solution. Next, take a battery-powered toothbrush and go for the grime! Before long, your wheel covers will be shiny as new!

Darkness into Light

Patricia Day — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:15:05 +0000

1 Corinthians 1

In its day, Corinth was not a nice place to be. It was a pleasure seekers paradise, where fleshy lusts could be satisfied in as many ways as were desired. The temples were certainly not Godly places. 1,000 prostitutes were available at meetings, to satisfy certain needs! This was not a church. It was infected with immorality and the people split among themselves. It was an ugly society filled with the darkness of evil.

Thankfully, Paul steadfastly brought about change. He planted God’s church there and converted as many as would be converted, to become followers of Christ. The darkness of their former ways became light under God’s guidance.

Sadly many societies today, still hold on to ancient – even pagan – traditions of satisfying the body, while ignoring the soul. Children and youth are abused and used! People of sick and evil ways and minds, use them to bring about their own gain, caring not one bit about the wellbeing of the innocence they destroy and the youth they traffic.

Mark 2: 17 – Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. (NKJV)

God’s Grace is never denied to anyone. Jesus can bring healing and cleansing to our spirit for He is the bringer of light, in a world ravaged by the darkness of sin.

Prayer: Today, Abba, let us be mindful of all those who need You in their lives. Let us pray for redemption for each of them, and remember to pray for hope and rescue for the abducted, imprisoned and abused. Let us pray for legions of Your angels to surround the innocent’s of this world and bring them to safe places. Let us continue to pray for Your intervention in bringing the perpetrators of dark acts, into the light of the law of society and be accountable under Your laws! Amen!

Patricia Day

http://pattersmatters.wordpress.com

Who Do YOU Please?

Linda Hull — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:29:42 +0000

I think just about everyone loves a pat on the back for a job well done! Affirmation when we do the right thing is such a bolster to the ego. Praises from others provides acceptance and assurance. The more praise we receive, the greater our confidence to pursue higher achievements.

It is no secret that praise is a great motivator. Putting forth our best effort is taught in the Bible. Consider Colossians 3:23: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”(KJV)

Yet, the devil has taught us a lie. That is, earning the praises of man is far better and somewhat easier than earning God’s praise. If we live by our own standards, we will certainly meet our expectations for success. However, we may find we have lost the approval of our LORD.

When Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, we would have assumed people who witnessed this miracle would have rejoiced and given thanks. Instead, the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus because in their eyes, He had broken the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy.

They believed they were justified in their desire to kill Him, for the LORD told Moses, “Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.” (Exodus 31:15)

Much discussion followed as Jesus explained He was sent by God to do His work. Jesus even explained He was God’s Son, carrying out the will of the Father. His comments further inflamed their wrath, because to them, Jesus was trying to make Himself equal with God.

Even though they knew the teachings of Moses and the Prophets, they missed the fact that Jesus was the Messiah, God’s Son. Their minds were closed to the possibility that God would allow healing on the Sabbath.

Instead of rejoicing in His miracles, they chose to find fault. They were not going to honor Him as God’s Son, nor would they honor the miraculous healing He did. Their blindness kept them from believing in Jesus and lost them God’s approval.

Jesus wrote a very interesting comment as recorded in John 5:44, “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?”

With these words, Jesus admonished the Jewish leaders. They feared if they agreed with Jesus, they would be thrown out of the Temple, no longer allowed to worship there. Their desire to appear righteous in the eyes of others overshadowed any desire to please God.

There is an important lesson in this account of the Sabbath healing of the lame man. We often believe when the majority is in agreement and is accepting of something, whatever it is, it must be right. People are frequently misled by what is said by people of influence.

Let us be reminded the crowd mentality exerts a great deal of influence over the individual, not necessarily in a good way.

“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” John 12:43

Our praise must come from our LORD. His opinion is what counts. If we are righteous in His eyes, and our works are pleasing to Him, then we will have the praise and affirmation we seek.