Nov 1, 2020

278 I Do Not Accept Glory from Human Beings, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 5:41-44 with the Recenter With Christ app

I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina:

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.

Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:

Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate.

Bible verses for Meditation:
John 5:41-44

NIV
41 “I do not accept glory from human beings,
42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.
43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.
44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

KJV
41 I receive not honour from men.
42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

Meditation on Scripture:

This scripture occurs when Jesus is rebuking those who claim to follow the scriptures but have no love of God in their hearts. I chose to cover this scripture so that we can critically examine the role of human approval and the value of prioritizing God. Due to a lot of reasons people are becoming overly invested in the opinions of other people to the point of inducing hatred in their hearts. People mistakenly think that these human perspectives become the most important thing in determining the way we interact with each other as human beings.

As followers of Jesus Christ we should be suspicious of anyone who promises salvation in their own name. There is nothing short of the Grace of God which is enough to deliver us from the weakness inherent in the human heart. Knowing this, the enemy attempts to create an artificial salvation through human communal hatred. I invite you to become suspicious of dedication to things that inspire hatred. Our faith should certainly not require that nor should anything else.

If we attempt to adhere to the laws of God while fostering hatred or feelings of superiority in our hearts then we are no better than pharisees. Jesus gives a higher calling. One that requires us to humble ourselves. Jesus came to save us, and in so doing shared a message denouncing human pride. Our loyalty should be to God above all else.

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

I invite you to sit in silence feeling being patient for your own faults and trials.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:
This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast

Updates:

Final Question: In what ways are you similar to the pharisees Jesus denounced?

Final Thought: Our loyalties should focus on learning how to fulfill the commands of Jesus, which is to love God, love our neighbor, then follow Him in faith. Human pride and loyalties to political ideals can foul our ability to live the command of God. I don’t mean to say that any secular activity is a distraction from God, but as we pursue any human or secular activities we need to keep them in the proper priority. Love of God should be the highest value we work toward. Loving others comes second to that.

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