Devotions with Pastor Bill Ritchey

In Luke 6:20-23(ESV) Jesus shared what have become known as the Beatitudes. He told His disciples “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.” I believe he was encouraging them to choose to take joy in the journey, despite whatever circumstances might arise.

Some of the most rewarding and challenging times in my life came while I was in a position of authority in an international Christian recovery organization. Part of my duties included speaking in a variety of denominational churches regarding our ministry. Receiving applause was a common occurrence, even if the audience was just being polite. Later, when the Lord moved me back into inner-city mission work, the applause pretty much dropped to zero. I can’t say that I was hated, but preaching in a mission chapel was just not the same. The problem with that was that I found myself craving that applause. In a very real way, I had become dependent upon the approval and praise of other people. The danger was not the applause itself. The problem arose when that became a life goal – to receive praise for myself.

Like many, when I read the Beatitudes, I usually stop after verse 23 rather than going on into the following verses, where Jesus pronounces several woes. When I recently found myself craving human praise, the Lord brought verse 26 to mind, “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets [emphasis added].”

This got my attention and helped me refocus on the Lord and lifting Him up. I have a promise of reward that is yet to come. The provision already available to me is more than adequate. Truly, the applause of heaven is much more valuable that the applause of men.
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Pastor Bill