For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we through Him. 1 Corinthians 8:5-6.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
If I am mindful of you, who else really matters? So what if people disregard you or ignore you. I am regarding and paying attention to your every thought, word, action, and breath. With all your ways I am familiar.
O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it all. Psalm 139:1-4.
If you are faithful with little things, I can promote you to greater works.
He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Luke 16:10.
But if you are careless and unfaithful with little things, nothing greater is coming.
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. Ephesians 6:7-8.
You are precious in My sight and I honor you. At the proper time I will bring your gift before great men.
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7.
A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. Proverbs 18:16.
If what your gifts and talents are producing is from Me, then they are for Me, so present them to Me as to an audience of one and I will bless them and you. Give Me first place in everything and I can prosper the work of your hands. If you truly desire to please Me, then use your gifts first to bless Me. Look at Me more than at others, including yourself. If you are not drawing crowds or having an overwhelming demand for your products that does not mean you are a failure. If you are using the gifts and talents I gave you to benefit others, even if they are not appreciative, I am pleased and your reward is from Me.
But I said, “I have toiled in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely the justice to me is with the LORD, and my reward with my God.” Isaiah 49:4.
There is only one who is your source and to whom you will have to render an account, and that is Me. I am your source and the better you know Me the safer you walk. The more of My Word you know—My instructions, statutes and decrees—the safer and more freely you will walk. This is true in any walk of life, in any profession. The more you know of the laws, rules, and protocol of your profession, the safer you walk from sanctions, dangers, discipline, and malfunctions.
To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Peter 1:1-4.
My apostle Paul knew Me well. And he was only concerned about My opinion of him and no one else’s. His aim was to please Me whether it made it popular and famous or not.
“I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:3-5.
You may think that you are performing for and being judged by many but really you only have an audience of One and only One whose judgment of you is valid. Me. The opinion and judgment of no one else actually matters or makes the ultimate determination in your life.
And what should that mean to you? Just what it meant to the One who understood this better than any man ever has or will—My Son when He emptied Himself and became of human estate. When the Jews judged Him as dishonoring Me because He said He was My Son and accused Him of having a demon, He replied: “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges.” John 8:48-51. And when after further dialogue with Him, they concluded that He did have a demon and that He was making Himself out to be someone of importance, greater than Abraham and the prophets, and questioned His authority, My Son simply replied: “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word.” John 8:54-55.
He always did what pleased Me whether it pleased the majority of the people or not, whether they judged Him incorrectly or not, whether they accepted Him or not. John 8:29. My servant Paul understood this by My Spirit when he wrote for you: “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-10.
When you continue in My Word you are truly My disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. And one of the many areas it will free you in is being upset or overly concerned whether people are thinking well of you. In fact, I tell you to beware of when all speak well of you and you are suffering no persecution for My Name’s sake. You may be conforming to the world’s ways and not being transformed by the renewal of your mind.
My servant Paul had this freedom, because all he did he did as unto Me. He did all he did for an audience of One, Me.
My judgments are right and fair, and they are filled with mercy and compassion. I know how you are formed, I know your flesh will go to dust. Psalm 103:13-14. And I do not judge by outer appearance, that was how the Pharisees were judging My Son, by purely human standards, viewing Him simply as a man like them, but I judge by the real you, I judge by the thoughts and motives of your heart.
It is My Word that judges you, John 12:48, and My Word is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, and it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from My sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before My eyes and it is to Me you give an account. Hebrews 4:12-13.
David knew My heart, and he said to his prophet Gad: “Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.” 2 Samuel 24:14.
And it is My Son who judges believers, John 5:22, and He sympathizes with your weakness and the trials you face, for He endured them all. Hebrews 4:15. He ever intercedes for you.
So, what sort of life should you be living? One where you are anxious and fearful of men and trying to do what you think pleases them to obtain promotion, love, acceptance and favor, even when such conduct is contrary to and rebels against My Word? Are you ashamed of Me and My teachings because today’s society rejects so many of them? There are many laws today contrary to My Word, just to name a few, abortion, same sex marriage, and physician assisted suicide, do you act as if these are acceptable when people discuss them so as not to appear different or biased? So as to escape ridicule? These are deeds of darkness that destroy people’s lives and their destiny. They are from the father of lies. Do you think that I am deaf to these things? I will reward you for walking in the light and giving that light to others.
You should be living in freedom and joy knowing I am with you to reward you and to work and will in you with delight so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the calling to fellowship with My Son and to your destiny of eternal glory with Me in Him. You are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people set apart so that you may proclaim the excellencies of the One who has called you out of darkness into My own marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are My people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy in Jesus. 1 Peter 2:9-10. So do your work in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as disciples of Christ, doing My will from the heart. With good will render service, as to Me, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing you do, this you will receive back from Me. Ephesians 6:5-8. I will Myself reward you, not another. You will see My Face and hear My voice.
Therefore, do not be confused about this, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what My will is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to Me; always giving thanks for all things in the name of your Lord Jesus Christ, He is My gift to you. And this will give you joy and peace. You cannot even imagine the magnificent beauty and wonders I have prepared for you!
And do not fear. I am with you. And I have given you the good Shepherd to guide you in paths of righteousness for My Name’s sake. And even if you find yourself walking in the valley of the shadow of death, He is right there at your side to lead you to the Light and to give you perfect protection. You will face many trials, but I will deliver you out of them all, and you can say with My servant Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, Himself, the just Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
Joseph essentially told his brothers who had sold him into slavery the same thing.
But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:19-21.
His one aim was to please Me in all he did, and if that meant forgiving and not judging his brothers, that is what he was determined to do at any cost.
I love you. Remember, you are really only performing for an audience of One. That alone matters. But it is then that others will find you most loving and kind and all will see your light and give praise to Me, your Heavenly Father, who has clothed you in the garments of salvation, the robe of righteousness, and given you royal bearing and nobility of heart. They will see you walking in wisdom. For the King’s child is all glorious within. Let Me do a deep work in you by My Spirit. And always remember, it is better to be judged by Me than by men, for equal to My majesty is the mercy that I show. 2 Samuel 24:14. I so loved the world that I gave you My only begotten Son so that all who believe in Him may never perish but have eternal life. And He came not to condemn you but to save and bless you beyond all you can ask or imagine.