Whose Recognition Do You Seek? - THE BEST KIND OF RECOGNITION

What is the best kind of recognition? It is not attention that many people try to get by means of higher education, success in business, or fame in the entertainment world.  Paul explained what it is when he said:  "Now that you have come to know God or, rather, have come to be known by God, how is it that you are turning back  again to the weak and beggarly elementary things and want to slave for them over again?"  (Galatians 4:9)  It is a wonderful privilege to "be known by God," the Supreme Ruler of the universe!  Jehovah knows who we are, he loves us, and he wants us to be close to him.  Jehovah created us so that we can be his friends. - ECCLESIASTES 12:13, 14.

We know that Moses was a friend of Jehovah.  When he pleaded with Jehovah: "Make  me know your ways," Jehovah  replied:  "I will also do this think that you request, because you have found favor in my eyes and I know you by name." (Exodus 33:12-17)  Jehovah can also know us personally.  But what must we do to become Jehovah's friend?  We must love him and dedicate our life to him. - Read 1 CORINTHIANS 8:3.

However, we need to keep our precious friendship with our heavenly Father. Like the early Christians in Galatia, we must stop slaving for "the weak and beggarly elementary things" of this world, including the success and fame it offers. (Galatians 4:9)  Those Christians in Galatia had already come to know God, and God already knew them.  But Paul said that these very same brothers were "turning back again: to empty things. So in other words, he was asking them: "Why did you turn back and start slaving for the same foolish and useless things again? 

Could the same thing happy to us?  Yes, it could.  Like Paul, when we cam into the truth, we may have given up fame and success in Satan's world. (Read Philippians 3:7, 8)   Maybe we gave up scholarships, good jobs, or opportunities to make lots of money. Or many we could have become famous or wealthy because we are talented in music or sports.  But we rejected all those opportunities.  (Hebrews 11:24-27) It would be very unwise to regret those good decisions and to make us go back to the things of this world, the things that we had already decided were "weak and beggarly." 


Next time:: Whose Recognition Do You Seek?- STRENGTHEN YOUR DESIRE TO HAVE JEHOVAH'S RECOGNITION

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