Heavenly Springs

Holding Fast The Doctrines of Grace

  • About
  • The Doctrines of Grace
  • My Puerto Rican Grandmother
  • Women of the Reformation
  • Resources & Links
You are here: Home / Devotional / Man pleasing and the hypocrites reward

Man pleasing and the hypocrites reward

August 23, 2010 by Christina

Those Puritans sure did not mince words!

Listen to the words of Richard Baxter, an English Puritan, as he expounds upon the sin of putting man’s approval above  that of Almighty God.

“Remember what a pitiful reward you seek. “Verily,” saith our Lord, concerning hypocrites and man-pleasers, “they have their reward,” Matt. vi. 25. O miserable reward! The thought and breath of mortal men, instead of God-instead of heaven; this is their reward! Their happiness will be to lie in hell, and remember that they were well spoken of on earth! and that once they were accounted religious, learned, wise, or honourable! and to remember that they preferred this reward before everlasting happiness with Christ! If this be not gain, your labour is all lost, which you lay out in hunting for applause. If this be enough to spend your time for, and to neglect your God for, and to lose your souls for, rejoice then in the hypocrite’s reward.”

Richard Baxter, Directions on Inordinate Man-Pleasing

You can read the whole thing here.

As the days grow increasingly evil, let us pray for the boldness to preach a crucified Christ for the purpose of pleasing God alone.  The alternative is terrifying.

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)

Share this:

  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit

Filed Under: Devotional, Puritans, Richard Baxter

Comments

  1. Petra Hefner says

    August 23, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    I pray for bold preaching like this to sweep through this man-centered, vainglory-infested, man-fearing land. Blessings, beautiful one!

    • Christina says

      August 23, 2010 at 10:15 pm

      Me too, Petra. Love and blessings!

  2. Diane says

    August 24, 2010 at 6:27 pm

    Amen! To think that at any time our life or our freedom to speak of God’s redemption could come to a screeching halt. All those wasted opportunities because of my silly pride will come looming before me.
    Oh Lord, give us vision of what it will be like in Hell for those we fear now and let us repent of ourselves while we still have time.

    Blessings dear Christina!

  3. Victoria says

    August 26, 2010 at 7:17 pm

    We are nothing without God.

Categories

Grab a Button!




Recent Posts

  • Yes, you are unworthy!
  • Margaret Clarkson on Human Weakness and the Power of God
  • Crisis, Christ, and Confidence Episode 5: Coronavirus – A Call for the Church to Rise
  • O For A Faith That Will Not Shrink
  • Crisis, Christ, and Confidence Episode 4: Coronavirus, the King of Conspiracies?

Recent Comments

  • Laura A Matesi on My Puerto Rican Grandmother
  • Rose Ali on Resources & Links
  • Liz Blanco on Resources & Links
  • Christina on Resources & Links
  • Liz Blanco on Resources & Links

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.