March 12

Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no path to a city in which to dwell. — Ps 107:4 BSB

Those who fight the Lord’s battles must be willing to die to all the favorable opinions and praise of people. You cannot make exceptions for the good opinions of God’s children either. The enemy is crafty, and he can make even these praises appeal to the flesh. It’s fine when God sends the approval of others, but we must never let it become a driving motive in our lives. Instead, we must be content with the lonely path, trusting that God alone knows.

All human approval can be a form of poison, taking away from the strength we need to give glory to God. It’s not necessary that those who see the Lord’s face see each other. The man or woman of God must learn to walk alone with Him. It’s enough that the Lord knows, and we must rest in that knowledge. Our natural tendency is to seek human sympathy and understanding, and we often mistake that for brotherly love. But in reality, it’s often just a reliance on human approval.