JUNE 1, 2025

  “Find a purpose to serve, not a lifestyle to live.” 

― Criss Jami

2 CHRONICLES 4-6

36“When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near; 37and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’; 38and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; 39then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.(6:36-39)

JOHN 12:20-50

42Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

JOURNAL 

2 Chronicles 6:36–39 reminds us that even in exile, even in the land of our captivity, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, God hears the repentant heart. Solomon’s prayer was not for a people who never failed, but for those who would fall, recognize their failure, and return with sincerity. The call was always back to the heart of God.

John 12:42–43 pierces with honesty:

“...they loved human praise more than praise from God.”

That line stops me cold. It names the temptation that shadows nearly every choice I make: the need to be seen, liked, validated. It's subtle—sometimes even disguised as “doing good” or “being excellent.” But underneath, there can still be a hunger for applause.

I think about how deep this goes. It’s not just ego; it’s survival instinct. Acceptance kept you alive in tribal days. Exile meant death. And while society has evolved, our wiring hasn’t. Our desire for belonging is rooted in that ancient fear.

But God calls us beyond survival. He calls us to surrender. To live for something higher than the shifting approval of people. To follow Jesus even when it costs us reputation, comfort, or applause.

And here’s the hard truth: I may not face persecution like the early Christians or those around the world today who suffer for their faith. My version of rejection is more subtle—social exclusion, misunderstanding, being thought of as “too religious.” But even that can cause fear.

Still, I’m learning this: following God is not a means to a reward, it is the reward. Obedience isn’t transactional; it’s relational. It’s choosing to love and trust a God who loved and chose me first.

Colossians 3:22–24 puts it plainly:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters... It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

That’s the shift. Not just doing the right things for the right people, but for the right reason. Not for applause, not for lifestyle optics.

God, rewire my instincts. Recalibrate my desires. Make my joy not in being admired but in being faithful. Let the only approval I crave be Yours.

22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

COLOSSIANS 3:22-24