Living with Praise

“I had not noticed how the humblest, and at the same time most balanced and capacious, minds praised most, while the cranks, misfits, and malcontents praised least. The good critics found something to praise in many imperfect works; the bad ones continually narrowed the list of books we might be allowed to read. The healthy and unaffected man, even if luxuriously brought up and widely experienced in good cookery, could praise a very modest meal: the dyspeptic and the snob found fault with all. Except where intolerably adverse circumstances interfere, praise almost seems to be inner health made audible.”
(C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms)

If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not trustworthy. There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony he gives about me is true. . . .How can you believe when you accept each other’s praise and do not look for the praise that comes from the only God? 

(John 5:44, ISV)

And so they accused Jesus. . .

He gave a simple fact:

“I cannot be my own witness.

Not even to myself.
And yet . . .

there is One
who does testify
in my favor.”

It was true for Jesus,
and because of Jesus
it is true for me.

And here is where his story presses on mine.

Even when someone speaks
in my favor,
it only counts
if it agrees with the truth.

Like John was a brief light
to shine on Jesus,
even these witnesses
only matter
when they support
a weightier
Witness.

The true Witness
gives a will to the worker,
gives a word to the messenger,
and that is his testimony
to his servant.

The true Witness
has a real voice,
uses the Scripture well,
and overcomes death
with life.

But
we refuse.

Rather than accept
God’s love for us
in our hearts,
we accept the praise
of people
as the only real
testimony,
looking for love there.

We leave the Father
who longs to praise us
as his children.

And what child
does not seek
his father’s
praise?

Perhaps this is how
we know who
we belong to—
where we seek our praise.

Are we children of
this world,
trusting passions
as our guides?

Are we children of
the Father of lights,
seeking His praise,
just like our older
brother Jesus?

He is full of praise,
while this world
lives on criticism
and skepticism.

When we seek praise
from the world,
we will only find ourselves
accused.

And why not?

Our systems are mostly run
by the Accuser—
naming worth,
assessing value,
handing out praise
only to take it away.

Jesus is full of the praise
of God
and of us.

He does not let
a smoldering wick
go out.

He does not let
a bruised reed
snap.

Gentle and truthful
is his praise:
water in a dry land,
manna in the desert,
a strong hand to hold us up
when we are going under.

Oh, seek his praise!
Seek his praise!

Then this childhood we live will be full
of wonder and delight,

going hand in hand

and eye to eye

with our Maker.

---

Epiphany Experience

So our year begins.

How many of our resolutions
seek the world’s applause?

How many of our inner promises
are born out of the fear
of rejection and abandonment?

Isn’t this just another way
of seeking the praise of people?

What if we sought out
a kind Father to please?

What if our nature
demands such seeking?

What if our nature
inevitably forms
around such praise?

We need to seek God’s praise
because it is true.
We may also need to seek
God’s praise
because it is formative—
helping us to grow up in love
rather than tearing us down
through lies, distrust,
and empty flattery.

Today, quietly write down
three or four praise-worthy things
about your life—
small or large,
obvious or easily overlooked.

Think about gifts and opportunities
you have received
gratefully and whole-heartedly.

By welcoming God
and his goodness
into your life,
you will find God’s praise.

Live in these things
even as you live
for these things.

---

Prayer

Gentle Father,

Your praise comes
as we live
in your goodness:
the truth of it,
the rightness of it,
and the beauty of it.

Save us from our accusers—
within us and around us—
who wrongly define
what is praise-worthy
and then beat us
over the head with it,
molding us into this world’s
wickedness,
loneliness,
and mockery.

Lord, let your praise
be on our lips:
the praise of you,
the praise that comes from you.

Let it transform us
into the likeness of Jesus,
full of peace, love, and joy.

Amen.

"Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."

Jesus asks a paralytic man a strange question: "Do you want to get well?" The answer plays out in how the man responds to Jesus.

He does not say "Yes" immediately, but complains about how he cannot enter a pool in the Temple which he thinks will heal him. His hope for restoration lies in this pool, probably used for some sort of ceremonial cleansing. Someone else always gets there first.

John paints this invalid man's plight as hopeless - he's been there 38 years - and as helpless - he can't make it to the water by himself and someone else always gets in first. To this hopelessness and helplessness, Jesus simply tells the man to get up and walk. John records no indication of thanks or belief from the invalid man. He doesn't even remember who Jesus is.

The lack of mention may seem an oversight, except that the Pharisees stop the man and accuse him of breaking the Sabbath. The accusation brings out the man's defensiveness and not his praise. He wants to get out of this small matter by blaming Jesus. This stinks of ingratitude on his part. After being healed from a 38-year malady the man can only point fingers and say, "He did it!"

Finally Jesus wraps up this lesson by finding the man and telling him to "stop sinning or something worse may happen." The man seems guilty of ingratitude and seems to prove it since right after Jesus warns him, he goes to tell the Pharisees who has made him well instead of leaving everything behind and following Jesus.

The real lesson lies a little deeper, however. Jesus talks about "something worse." What could possibly be worse than being unable to move yourself for 38 years with no help toward any healing at all? Certainly Jesus alludes to Hell. But more than that, he alludes to this Death that begins in this present existence, just as Life can being in this existence. "Hell" or "Heaven" begin now.

Sinning brings me into a hopeless, helpless mode of existence. It enslaves me and makes me do what I do not want to do. It takes my best intentions and turns them into a self-righteousness that corrupts me even more quickly. "The wages of sin is death," death in this life.

Jesus came so that we could stop sinning. He does not want us to live in hopelessness and helplessness. He sets us free from sinning. Like that invalid before Jesus, I have hope in healing from this self-induced sickness; I have help to break the debilitating habits I cannot break myself. My hope is based on God's kindness in Jesus, not on any ceremony (like the Pool of Siloam) that might heal me.

I also see my easy ingratitude, like this man. In the face of small accusations, I quickly forget the years of sin and brokenness that Jesus frees me from. I quickly abandon God and try to justify myself at his expense rather than giving him the praise. How can I forget so quickly that I was like that invalid man, 38 years in the hole without help from anyone, especially these accusers, who don't praise God for my healing, but look for reasons to accuse me anyway? How can I join them in looking for Jesus to accuse him?

Lord, I know my sins. I know your forgiveness. I know how quickly I forget your goodness and join others in making less of you. Let me overlook such condemnation and remember to praise you for your great pity on me. Something worse might happen. I may forget your goodness and live my life ignorant of it, thinking somehow I helped myself. Then I would become hopeless and helpless, because I cannot save myself. Save me from the twin sins of ingratitude and forgetfulness. Amen.