Wednesday, August 10, 2011
“But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth” (2 Corinthians 10:17,18 KJV).
While we enjoy praise from others, today’s Scripture reminds us that only “whom the Lord commendeth [praiseth]” is “approved [of God].” Mega-church leaders and bestselling “Christian” authors are not necessarily approved of God. Our work matters only if God Almighty approves of it!
When we do the Lord’s work wholeheartedly, someone will criticize us. People praise us when we sin and encourage us to do it again. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” We should never puff ourselves up with pride when we do something, because we even deceive ourselves at times. Human evaluation of deeds cannot be trusted: we need an unbiased Judge, whose judgment is unimpaired by sin. We need the Lord Jesus Christ, for He alone can fairly and truthfully evaluate our work.
Some Corinthians criticized Paul’s “weak” physical appearance and despised his speech (2 Corinthians 10:10). Notice Paul’s response: “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (verse 12).
Let people criticize us for doing good. God is the Judge. We let God praise us. We do not praise ourselves. Today’s Scripture says we glory in the Lord, not in ourselves. We boast in the Lord’s capacity, in His ability, in His work, in His wisdom….
In 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 we read of the day when we Christians will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, where the Lord will evaluate our deeds and the sound doctrine we believed. Here, the Lord Himself will give us, individually, a “job well done.” “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 5:9,10).
“Only whom the Lord commendeth is approved!”
333 Words of Grace 