Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.
I don’t know about you, but I feel like we are in such a confusing time as Christians when it comes to our culture and all the information at our fingertips. I mean, there are so many websites, blog posts, podcasts, and Instagram videos! You name it, it’s out there for us to consume and be influenced by. There are more Christian podcasts than ever before! The presence of celebrity pastors on Instagram is like nothing we’ve ever seen. Sometimes it can be hard to discern good theology from bad theology when there is so much of it out there for us to consume all at once. It’s hard to know which pastors are being sincere in their teachings and way of life when all we can see is their expensive taste and highly entertaining charisma on the stage.
In today’s scripture, Paul explains his heart behind why he shares the Gospel and who should be glorified in the process. He makes a powerful statement in verse 4: because they have been entrusted by God with the message of the Gospel, they seek to please not man but God alone! I’m sure there has been a time when we have cared about someone so much that we have spun the Gospel in a way that would be more palatable for someone who wasn’t a believer. Part of this comes from wanting so badly for that person to hear and receive some of the harsh but necessary truths that come with surrendering to God. However, at the end of the day, all we are doing is trying to please man instead of striving to please God.
Paul also goes on to say that he and his teammates did not come with words of flattery or to seek glory from the people they were preaching to! It’s so important that when we are listening to sermons, podcasts, Instagram posts, etc., we are mindful of what is being communicated and who it brings glory to! Is this pastor on Instagram just telling me things that will make me feel better about myself, or is he speaking truth to me through scripture? Is the message focused on Jesus and glorifying Him, or is it mostly trying to entertain me with humor and charisma? These are questions we should be mindful of when we tell others about the Lord and His Word! Are we actually telling people the truth and leading them to know, love, and follow Jesus, or are we just trying to make others feel “good” while enjoying the sound of our own voices? We need to remember whose opinion matters the most! We need to remember whose name is the most worthy of glory!
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.