“AUDIENCE OF ONE”
“I and the Father are one” (John 10:30)
- Jesus
By: Rev. Dan Minor
Do we live to please God? Or do we live to please ourselves? Do we care most about what other people think? Or do we care what God thinks? The answer to these questions determines the direction of our lives.
The world is full of opinions. Everyone has an opinion and many are too glad to share their opinions with others. To live a life pleasing to God requires us to concentrate on what matters most.
Jesus is the perfect example of this. Jesus was never swayed by what people thought of Him. He did not seek the approval of anyone except God. Jesus said, “I do only that which is pleasing to my heavenly father” (John 8:29). On the occasion of Jesus’ baptism God said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
The problem with following the crowd is that the crowd is not always right. This can lead to frustration and despair. To the contrary, Jesus will always lead us in the right direction.
The truth is no one can please everyone. Jesus said, “no one can serve two masters” (Luke 16:13). In Romans 12:1 we read, “Do not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
The best way to stay true to God is to have “the mind of Christ” (Philippians 2:5), meaning to think His thoughts, to act as He would act and to do as He would do.
Only then can it be said we are living for an audience of One.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to live a life that is pleasing to You.
In Your strong name, Amen.
