When did you post your last selfie? Count your followers? Look at statistics at how well you are doing on social media?
When did you silently stroke your ego, offer yourself private compliments about how “good” you are, or how well you are doing…
When was the last time you tried to show the world, you are something?
I see them posting Lamborghini’s on Facebook, those looking for media time, t.v. airways to boost their confidence and paychecks…
Needing bravado’s to prove to the world that they are someone, that they have achieved something….
When the reality is they feel empty, lonely…
Insignificant.
The praises of men, shallow. Reputations aren’t equivalent to real identities. What we achieve in this life, often meaning nothing in the next.
“Invest in what has eternal value”, I hear at the conference I spoke at, in Denver.
And my mind racks at how so many petty things vi for our attention.
How it is often easier to waist a life, than to fight for what is good in it.
It’s easier to live useless and apathetic, than push through the dark, and let Jesus shine through us.
I get the text this morning….
The little baby we had been fighting for, fasting and praying for, didn’t win his battle. Heaven welcomed him home.
He was an orphan in Chi*a. And no one on a global scale, ever really even knew his name.
He had no parents, no agenda’s, no earthly reputation launching him into some public arena…
Simply dozens of people pleaded for his life. Just a handful of sacrificial saints truly gave up their lives; their time, their desires, to save babies just like him.
I see those who gave up their jobs and reputations, big houses, finances, ivy league schools and promises of worldly treasures to serve the poor in Chi*a.
And I wonder how I live mine…
What it means to truly care less about what people say about you. What it means to offer my life as a living sacrifice, to the poor and to the needy.
And I think, most of us…even you reading this…you likely cares about the lost and needy.
We would have to be calloused and dead inside to say we wished children to die, or that somehow those forgotten, thier lives are useless…
The poor and needy often being our greatest teachers.
Tweet ThisAnd yet, we shrink back.
Too many wanting their own consequences, platforms, or personal accolades for doing something good and kind.
But, what if when we do good, all we find is persecution, not platforms and personas, parades and acceptance of others?
What if this journey isn’t to gain any earthly reputation, but to lay down our lives at whatever the 
cost.
To fight in love for justice, be His hands and feet, wherever He takes us, give and keep giving, even when it’s hard and truly costs us?
Yet, let’s face it, hearing it ever since we were children, the story of Jesus’ death can seem routine and redundant.
We can brush past is, as if insignificant. Sacrificing for our sins, accepting His cross, can be something we, as Christians, can get numb to…
And before you know it, the sheer power of the gospel, can seem like an overheard commercial…
Though we must not forget, the story of the gospel has the power to transform the world.
I drive in my car, after being tagged to the wall. I think about Him and keep thinking about this God who truly was and is the Savior of the world.
Feeling pierced a little, knowing good doesn’t always measure with earthly reward. And often those who give the most, must exchange their lives for living a life like He did.
His face enters my mind.
And I am reminded about how Jesus had no earthly reputation. How He healed people and touched, and set people free. He gave others a chance to live a new life…
And yet, the world only hammered him to a tree.
How the end result of His ministry that touched most, didn’t look like praise and platforms, but cost him…
The same people hailing him with palm branches one day, turned to chant, “crucify Him” the next.
And it’s a fickle world we live in….When we look for the praises of men.
So friends, it’s vital that we live for the praises of One alone. That we don’t hail ourselves, or even quietly whisper our own worth underneath our breath.
That we too would take the lashes, thorns, mockery, and demise with grace and humility.
That we would thank those who turn on us, because it refines and prepares us for the reality of the resurrection.
“If they persecute me, they will persecute you.” Jesus tells us in John 15:20.
Acts 24: 16 shares all we must do is, “Do your best to maintain a clear conscious before God and man.”
Because we weren’t born to have the praises of men, but to reflect of glory of Christ alone.
And maybe this journey is more about sharing His love with a hurting world, giving our lives silently for the sake of those who need Jesus, surrendering our lives, reputations, purposes and agendas….
So that God can get glory through the feeble works of our hands.
At the time of Jesus dead, it looked like He didn’t have any earthly inheritance.
Man persecuted and tried to destroy Jesus? Many worked diligently to justify away his significance, and corrode His reputation?
But what they didn’t see was that heaven is not altered by man’s opinions. Our life on this earth isn’t the end of this story.
God still rules and reigns with justice and mercy, vengeance and truth.
What people didn’t see was that upon Jesus dead, the Holy Spirit was released. The light of the Gospel was ignited and taken far and wide despite because of His punctures and wounds.
The gospel today being 
the world’s biggest religion.
Yes, what we are seeing in the flesh, is not the end of our stories.
The little child in Chi*a who nobody knew his story, burns in hearts, igniting an even greater passion for the orphan.
He ministered to us greatly, (Without any words) not just because of his life, but in his death.
And if Jesus could go to the cross, like a lamb to the slaughter, if a six-month-old baby could pass on, touching so many without even speaking….
How much more might our lives, our stories, our tangible works without words or agendas, change the world one person at a time?
Might we wake to the reality that we weren’t born for the accolades of man. (John 12:43) Beware when all men praise and think highly of us… (Luke 6:26)
Remembering that heaven has no platforms, only humble servants….
Laying down their lives…
For the audience and praise of One, and One alone.
12 Comments
Wow! This is an amazing post…very convicting and edifying. Thank you, Jen, for always being faithful to share what God is placing upon your heart, regardless. You are such a blessing to me. So sorry to hear about the little one’s passing, but I know he got a huge welcome in glory. Love you, sweet friend.
Cheryl – Your encouragement is invaluable to me! Thank you! Already, we are seeing God use the sweet babies passing in incredible ways. Oh that we might seize the day, & thank Him for each and every breath! Love you, my friend!
A great reminder and beautifully written.
Thank you, Lydia! Have a blessed, blessed weekend!
Such a great reminder that “we weren’t born to have the praises of men, but to reflect of glory of Christ alone.” Thank you, Jen. I’m your neighbor at Jennifer’s.
Trudy – Thanks for stopping by! Yes, oh that we might have our eyes fixed on getting the praises of one alone! Have a great weekend!
This post reminds me of a something I read recently…”The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that’s wrong with the world.” Dr. Paul Farmer I’ve been praying that I would be willing to do right, do good, do what God is calling me to do period–in public, in private, in obscurity–no matter what. Thank you for confirming what I have been thinking. No need to defend my reputation. God’s opinion needs to be far weightier than man’s ideas. Visiting from #tellhisstory today.
Angela – Oh friend, the power in that “PERIOD”. That’s what get’s us, I think. We can say, “Yes” to God, but then have conditions, like, “I will do such and such IF….” Yet, oh the power in humble obedience, and following despite how we might appear to others, not needing to defend our reputations! So good! Love how God used this to confirm something He had already been speaking to you! Praises to Him alone!
An audience of one. How important that is.
Amen, Ally!
This post showed a glimpse of your heart for the hurt in this world. The gospel is the only thing that can motivate us to reach out to the hurting of this world. I love Jesus’ example because He did what He did because He was obsessed with the gospel and the Father’s will. Totally needs to be the same for me. visiting from Tellhisstory #7
Kristina – Yes, it’s like having a great gift, but being willing to share it! How can we hoard what He has done, and keep silent? It’s the well of unending depths, for those who are thirsty! Thanks for the visit! Hope to see you here again soon!