Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Phil. 4:8
We commend ourselves often. Whether in resumes, small talk, or the Info sections of our Facebook pages, we spend a lot of time commending ourselves. Unfortunately, none of that matters to God. He doesn't really care how highly you think of yourself. Your resume and list of good works will not get you into Heaven. Paul refers to such things as trash. They don't mean anything to God unless they were done to glorify his gospel. II Corinthians 10:18 says, "For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends." So, how do we go about being commended by the Lord?
I Corinthians 4 tells of the judgment day when all men will be commended by God and the purposes of their hearts will be disclosed. God doesn't commend those who just do what is seemingly good. He commends those who are of pure motive to serve him. And when we serve him we are to do it as he would have it. II Corinthians 4:2 says, "But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God." We must live in such raw truthfulness of the Scripture that we show others how to live the life God commends. We must be an example of God in the world.
God wants us to be overwhelmed with pure devotion and admiration for him because of what he has done for us. In response, we seek him, serve him, and sanctify him. He's not looking for those who are just willing to play the part. The commendation of man is meaningless, but the commendation of the Father is everything. God commends those whom he finds to be living like he did while he was on the earth because his ways are truly commendable.
God is truth. God and all of his creation is deserving of honor. God is justice. God is purity. God is lovely. God is commendable. Think about these things.
"And I commend joy, for man has no good under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun."
Ecc. 8:15
We commend ourselves often. Whether in resumes, small talk, or the Info sections of our Facebook pages, we spend a lot of time commending ourselves. Unfortunately, none of that matters to God. He doesn't really care how highly you think of yourself. Your resume and list of good works will not get you into Heaven. Paul refers to such things as trash. They don't mean anything to God unless they were done to glorify his gospel. II Corinthians 10:18 says, "For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends." So, how do we go about being commended by the Lord?
I Corinthians 4 tells of the judgment day when all men will be commended by God and the purposes of their hearts will be disclosed. God doesn't commend those who just do what is seemingly good. He commends those who are of pure motive to serve him. And when we serve him we are to do it as he would have it. II Corinthians 4:2 says, "But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God." We must live in such raw truthfulness of the Scripture that we show others how to live the life God commends. We must be an example of God in the world.
God wants us to be overwhelmed with pure devotion and admiration for him because of what he has done for us. In response, we seek him, serve him, and sanctify him. He's not looking for those who are just willing to play the part. The commendation of man is meaningless, but the commendation of the Father is everything. God commends those whom he finds to be living like he did while he was on the earth because his ways are truly commendable.
God is truth. God and all of his creation is deserving of honor. God is justice. God is purity. God is lovely. God is commendable. Think about these things.
"And I commend joy, for man has no good under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun."
Ecc. 8:15
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