The apostle John wrote how Jesus said, “I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me. And the Father himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom he has sent, him you believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And you will not come to me, that you might have life. I receive not honor from men. But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's name, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive”, and in chapter five and verse forty-four of his book, John shared how Jesus asked, “how can you believe, which receive honor one of another?” where we read:
How can you believe, which receive honor one of another,
and seek not the honor that comes from God only?
The verse reads, “How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, ...”. John began with the words, “How can you believe” or “in what way are you, Jewish people who are questioning Jesus, able and capable of trusting, being persuaded, having confidence in and thinking to be true”, “which receive honor” which means “who lay hold of, claim and procure praise and glory” “one of another” or “from one person to the other”. John shared how Jesus asked the Jewish people who were interrogating Him as to what way they could “trust in and rely upon” Him because they gave “praise and glory” to one another.
The verse continues, “... and seek not the honor that comes from God only?” John added the words, “and seek not the honor” which means “and do not look for, crave, and strive for the praise and glory” “that comes” or “that arises and appears” “from God only” which means “apart and separate from the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit solely and alone”? John shared how Jesus continued His question to the Jewish people by stating that they did not “look for or crave” the “praise and honor” that “arises” from “God alone”.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we see how the “praise” of others was the desire of these Jewish people, and this kept them from “believing” in Jesus. Many people “crave” the praise and glory of others, and their lives are built around others' words of “honor”, but this desire can prevent a person from “believing” and trusting in Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. For these Jewish to “believe” in Jesus, they needed to put aside the “praise” of one another, and yield their lives to Jesus as those who are wise will do.
Next time John shares how Jesus says, “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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