Is your faith driven by a need to be recognized and honored?
In Luke 11:43 Jesus upbraided the Pharisees by saying “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you love to sit in the seats of honor in the synagogues and receive respectful greetings as you walk in the marketplaces”. (NET)
The Pharisees were suckers for the praise and recognition of people in their community. Whether it was the VIP seats in the place of worship or being highly regarded in the marketplace, they were addicted to the praise and honor bestowed by others on them.
When our faith is dependent on the recognition and appreciation of others, it will be both hollow and suspect.
In John 12:43, Jesus warned about the Pharisees and said “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God”.
If our faith is authentic and sincere, what will matter to us is the “praise of God”. And the praise of man will be unimportant and whenever accorded, incidental.
So whose praise will you seek today? The praise of man or the praise of God?
Changi Chapel 
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