Is pride keeping you from coming to God, or believing in God? Is your desire for the fame and approval of men (your friends, your family, your co-workers) keeping you from coming to Jesus? When you think about the seriousness of that question, in a logical way, you would morn. Let's suppose that all non-believers KNEW that God offers salvation through His Son, Jesus. That salvation will give them life and keep them from a death of fire. Yet, because their friends might laugh at them they refuse to believe. That would be a shame. That would be devastating. Yet, that was the exact problem of the religious leaders of the day. They refused to to believe because they sought the approval of men. Note the following:
John 5:44
How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?
The concept of "receive glory from one another" has to do with seeking the approval and acceptance of men. Today, so many people what acceptance of men more than the acceptance of God. We leverage our "acceptance" of men with power, position and possessions. When we are "accepted" by men we get more money for what we do. If non-believers were to come to Christ they fear men. They fear men will reject them. They fear that man will over look them for positions and power. Christ demands that we believe on Him and that is how we get accepted by Him. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that unless we have "faith" we can't please God. We please men when we don't believe in God. We please God when we reject men and put our faith in Him. The religious leaders of the day, feared men. Solomon tells us that the "fear of man" brings a snare (Proverbs 29:25). Don't fear men, fear God.
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